
v.- ? :;v?-:? 



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et0t) $000 



anil tlir 



Imteo itotes flog 



BY OLIVER RANDOLPH PARRY 



BETSY ROSS 

.-. AND THE.-. 

UNITED STATES FLAG 



Philadelphia Woman Maker of the First 
Standard. 



A Paper Read Before The Bucks County Historical 

Society, at Doylestown, Pa., January 19, 1909, 

by Oliver Randolph Parry, of Bucks 

County and Philadelphia. 



CTfn 3 

?3 



^09 



BETSY ROSS AND THE 

UNITED STATES FLAG 



Fellow members of the Bucks County 
Historical Society, and guests: 

In connection with this subject, I take 
pleasure in presenting to the Bucks 
County Historical Society consider- 
able data furnished me by certain de- 
scendants of Betsy Ross; the collateral 
lines of said family and others as well as 
the only piece of original flooring from 
the front room, or store, of the ^Betsy 
Ross house, No. 239 (old No. 89) Arch 
street, Philadelphia, Pa., extant. The au- 
thenticity of which is shown and estab- 
lished by the accompanying sworn affida- 
vit of Charles M. Wallington, an aged 
and reputable citizen, of 543 West street, 
Camden, N. J., who personally procured 
the board from the owner of the flag 
house and which I will now read. 

Affidavit. 

"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." 
County of Philadelphia, ss. 

Be it known, That on the day of the 
date hereof, before me, the undersigned, 
a Notary Public for the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, residing in the city of 
Philadelphia, personally appeared Chas. 
M. "Wallington, residing at 543 West 
street, in the city of Camden, and State 
of New Jersey, who being duly sworn, ac- 
cording to law, did depose and say that— 



I, Chas. M. Wallington, hereby swear 
that I personally obtained from Mr. 
Philip Mund, deceased, then owner of the 
property No. 239 Arch street, Philadel- 
phia, known as the Betsy Ross Flag- 
house, Monday, November 7, 1881, the only 
piece of original boards composing the 
flooring of the front room of shop of said 
Flag house not consumed for kindling or 
otherwise destroyed. 

I recently presented board to Oliver 
Randolph Parry, Esq., of New Hope 
(formerly Coryell's Ferry), Bucks coun- 
ty, Pa. I hereby certify that the above 
mentioned piece of board is* the same 
board mentioned in the article published 
by The Philadelphia Press in issue of 
Sunday, Sept. 11, 1887. I also certify that 
Mrs. Amelia Mund, wife of said above, 
Philip Mund, assured me that this was 
the only piece of the original boards in 
the hands of anyone. I also certify to 
this because of a reporter's erroneous 
statement that others had visited the 
house for pieces of the original flooring. 

Sworn and subscribed before me this 2d 
day of March, A. D. 1908. 

Chas. H. Dougherty, Notary Public. 
Com. expires May 1st, 1909. 

Chas. M. Wallington. 

543 "West Street, 
Camden, N. J. 

I will read in part a letter from the do- 
nor of the board bearing on this subject, 
and a copy of the article referred to as 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG 



having appeared in The Philadelphia 
Press of Sept. 11th, 1887. 

Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1908. 
"Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 

Dear Sir:— 

It gives me great pleasure to present 
you with the only original remaining part 
of the "Board, or relic, from the front 
room (the store or shop) of Betsy Ross, 
at No. 239 Arch street, Philadelphia, where 
the first American flag was made, as told 
in communication, signed "Kamden" 
(Chas. M. Wallington) in 'Penn's" col- 
umns of "The Evening Bulletin," Phila- 
delphia, Saturday, January 18, 1908. Some 
time in 1887 another Philadelphia news- 
paper published an article about the Old 
Flag House in which my name was men- 
tioned and therefore more directly con- 
nected me with the possession of the old 
board. I regret the loss of the article. 
Respectfully yours, 
Chaa M. Wallington 
Philadelphia correspondent 

Commercial and Financial World of 
New York City 

543 West Street, 
Camden, N. J. 
To 

Oliver Randolph Parry, 
New Hope, Bucks county, Pa." 

From "Penn's" columns, "The Even- 
ing Bulletin," Philadelphia Saturday 
January 18, 1908, we have — 

"In reply to Mr. Henry C. Frey, I 
would state that the late Philip Mund, 
who was part proprietor of "Mund and 
Albrecht's Farm," on the way from 
the railroad station to Scheutzen Park, 
in the Centennial year started a lager 
beer saioon at 239 Arch street, now 
known as "the original Flag House" 
probably in the latter part of 1876, or 
early part of 1877, 

"Years before that time he occupied 
it as a tailor shop. The original door- 
way was on the east side of the house, 
communicating with entry way, in 
which was a half door, which opened 
into Betsy Ross' shop, which subse- 
auently became Mr. Mund's saloon. 



"The original floor boards of this 
room, which were composed of heavy 
pine wood six and three quarter inches 
wide and one and one quarter inches 
thick, were replaced by the present 
boards during the week of October 31, 
1881, and the lumber was piled in the 
yard for kindling wood purposes. Mr. 
Mund furnished me with a saw, 
by which I obtained a piece of one of 
the original boards, which I made into 
a table top and now have framed, 
hanging in my room. 

"One of the Mund boys, Charles P. 
Mund, or his brother, who was acci- 
dentally electrocuted at Atlantic City, 
uncovered the tiles in the fireplace in 
the room where the first Amrican flag 
was made. One, or both of them found 
a number of old papers in the loft, 
which a German servant girl was al- 
lowed to kindle fires with; and they 
also found, embedded in the masonry 
in the cellar, an old broken hatchet or 
tool, which Mrs. Mund sold for $25 to 
the proprietor of a museum somewhere 
in the New England States. Mrs. 
Mund, after her husband's death, car- 
ried on the saloon. I think she died in 
the house, which came into the posses- 
sion of an only son, Charles P. Mund, 
who embarked in business as a manu- 
facturer of the "Betsy Ross" brand of 
cigars. Kamden 

(CHAS. M. WALLINGTON.)" 

I will also read from other letters to 
me from Mr. Wallington as follows: 
Camden, N. J., Feb. 20, 1908. 

Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 
Dear Sir: — 

The following is a verbatim copy of 
an article which was published by 
"The Philadelphia Press," Sunday 
September 11, 1887, in which mention is 
made of "one gentleman had a board 
made into a table and draped it with 
the American flag." 

The table was too top heavy to 
maintain its equilibrium without wab- 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



bling, so I made a frame for it of cedar 
wood derived from old cigar boxes, 
which I varnished. The original 
frame is that which I present to you. 
In itself no importance can be attach- 
ed to it— but the piece of old floor 
board of the shop of Betsy Ross— 
(front room on ground floor) at 239 
Arch street, Philadelphia, should be 
appreciated as of enduring value. 
Respectfully yours, 
CHAS. M. WALLINGTON. 
("Kamden" of communications to v 
"Penn" of "The Evening Bulletin" of 
Philadelphia) 

Philadelphia Correspondent, "Com- 
mercial and Financial World" of New 
York City, 543 West street, Camden, 
N. J. 

(From "The Philadelphia Press," 
Sunday, September 11, 1887) 

Birth of The Flag. 
The House in Which the First Ameri- 
can Ensign Was Made 
A Relic of Patriotic Da3's. 
Nearly Hidden Between Great Fac- 
tories, It Remains in Almost .Its 
Original Condition, Although it is 
now used as a B^er Saloon. 
On Arch Street, below Third, stands 
a little old building, two stories and a 
half high, bearing a sign which in- 
forms the passerby that within the 
house was made, the first American 
flag and in these days he can buy beer 
or liquor there. 

Early in 1777 a committee appointed 
by the Continental Congress to select 
a design for a national flag, went with 
General Washington to the little shop 
of Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, at 239 Arch 
street, to have their ideas embodied in 
bunting. Mrs. Ross was a milliner 
whose principal business was among 
the Quaker ladies, and in the project- 
ing window were hung the correct 
forms of the brown and drab bonnets, 
about whose make-up the women of 
the Friends' Society were, and are a? 
particular, as the lady who now stop» 



one's view at the theatre. General 
Washington sketched on a scrap of 
paper the design agreed upon. There 
were thirteen stripes of alternate 
white and red, and in the blue union 
were to be thirteen white stars arrang- 
ed in a circle. There is a tradition 
that General Washington ordered that 
the stars have six points, and that 
Mrs. Ross argued that the stars in the 
sky seemed to have only five points. 
She won the day by showing her visit- 
ors how a star with five points could 
be made with one clip of her scissors. 
The flag, was made in her little back 
room, and on June 14 of the same year, 
Congress adopted the design and che 
national banner. 

THE BUILDING UNCHANGED. 
The building was changed but little 
since then. 

A large tree which stood in front of 
it during the Revolution, survived 
until 1876. when it became dangerous 
and was cut do^n. But the house 
stands as it then did. Even Mrs. Ross' 
show window is preserved, and the 
wooden shutters on the second story 
windows, and the dormer window in 
the sharply sloping roof, are the same 
that looked down on Arch street a 
hundred years ago. 

The barroom would even now be 
recognized as Mrs. Ross' shop if one 
of that committee could revisit it. 
Passing from this room through a 
narrow entry and up two steps, one 
enters Mrs. Ross' work room, where, 
without doubt, the flag was cut out 
and sewed together. It is even now a 
queer old room. On its furtherest end 
is the fireplace, now covered with wall 
paper, but showing at the top a row 
of the blue and white tiles which once 
surrounded it. Built in one corner is a 
three -cornered wooden cupboard. The 
very locks and knobs on the doors are 
of the pattern of the last century, The 
stairways of this house are all wind- 
ing and very narrow. That leading to 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG 



the cellar is very steep. The attic is 
still floored with the puncheon boards 
which once were the only flooring- in 
the bouse, an inch thick and eighteen 
inches wide. 

The only new thing about the whole 
structure is a back kitchen built with- 
in the last few years. 

ITS LATER HISTORY. 

Mrs. Amelia Mund, a comely Ger- 
jnan widow, who keeps the tavern, 
and owns the property, told what she 
knew of the history of the building 
since the time of Mrs. Ross. "It was 
occupied as a tailor's shop for many 
years, and my husband bought it over 
forty-five years ago. Neither he nor 
I would allow anything to be changed, 
unless an absolute necessity to keep 
the building from going to pieces. It 
is strong and well built and has need- 
ed very little repairing. When the 
floor of what was the shop was taken 
up some years ago, the original floor 
was taken away, as it could not be 
kept from falling into the cellar. 
People came from long distances to 
get pieces of it as relics, and one 
gentleman (Chas. M. Wallington) had 
a board made into a table and draped 
it with the American liag. The house, 
until two or three weeks ago, never 
had a sign to tell people that the first 
American flag was made here, but I 
thought people ought to know. Any- 
way I have had no end of visitors to 
inquire about the old house. 

Not many of them were Philadel- 
phians for they don't seem to care about 
the relics of the Revolution, nowadays, 
but a great many Western people and 
visitors to the city have come to this 
house and taken as much interest in it 
as they did in Independence Hall. 
PLANS FOR PRESERVATION. 

"I hope President Cleveland will 
come here when he is at the Constitu- 
tional Centennial city. Do you think 
he would? When the flag's birthday 
celebration was held in 1877, I had for- 



gotten all about decorating the house, 
and didn't even show a flag and the 
parade went right by the house, and 
the newspapers went for me about it, 
too. You shall see how I will decorate 
my house during the celebration this 
fall." 

On either side of 239 are tall build- 
ings used for manufacturing purposes, 
and the space this relic of history oc- 
cupies, is becoming too valuable for it 
to stay there much longer. Mrs. Mund 
states that she wishes the Historical 
Society would buy the building and 
move it out to the park beside Will- 
iam Penn's Letitia Street house. Seve- 
ral ladies have already become inter- 
ested in this project and the Historical 
Society is said to have it under con- 
sideration." 

There was also another account 
mentioning Mr. Wallington's name in 
this connection, which appeared in 
"The Inquirer" or other Philadelphia 
paper, at about this date, but which he 
has so far been unable to find, as per 
following letter: — 

Camden, N. J., Friday, Feb. 23, 1908. 
"Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 
Dear Sir: — 

I wrote you yesterday a postal card, 
on which I stated my inability to see 
Charles Dougherty, Notary Public, 
Juniper above Market street, and my 
object in going to the Ridgway Branch 
of the Philadelphia library, to search 
the files of "The Inquirer" of Philadel- 
phia. I examined, but cannot say 
carefully, the papers published in Sep- 
tember and October, 1887. The early 
numbers of "The Inquirer" are kept in 
book form at the library. I have been 
looking over some of my old papers 
this morning, at home, in order to find, 
if possible, some clue to the date of 
publication of an article that con- 
tained my name in connection with the 
ownership of the piece of original 
flooring of the old Flag House (No. 
239 Arch Street, Phila.) which I lately 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



presented to the Bucks County His- 
torical Society through you. I have 
not, so far, found anything to 
strengthen my recollection of the past. 
On Monday next I shall see Mr. 
Dougherty, Notary Public, and swear 
to matter contained in an affidavit 
which i have prepared. 

Respectfully yours, 
CHAS M. WALLINGTON, 

"Philadelphia Correspondent 'Com- 
mercial & Financial World' of New 
York City, 543 West street, Camden, 
N. J." 

I will also read a letter from Mr. 
Wellington dated February 21, 1908, 
which may be of interest. 

"Phila., Friday, Feb., 21, 1908. 
"Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq. 

Dear Sir: — 

"In reply to your queries relative to 
the date of the old wood cuts, which, 
on September, 1881, I pasted on a piece 
of flooring (lately presented to you) 
taken'from the old Flag House, 239 
Arch street, Philadelphia, Pa., and the 
possibility of other samples being in 
existence, I would say that the cuts 
were probably derived from the same 
source, Harper's Magazine, of 1880, or 
years before that period. I speak to 
the best of my recollection. 

"That I was the possessor of the only 
piece of the original board of the 
house, I had the assurance of Mrs. 
Mund. 

"She was the widow of the late 
Philin Mund, who had owned the prop- 
erty, where he carried on the tailoring 
business for many years and during 
the 70' s converted into a lager beer 
saloon. 

"Mrs. Mund told me that all of the 
wood, except that which I had made 
into the table top, had been used for 
kindling. The reporter in his article, 
published by "The Philadelphia 
Press," Sunday September 11, 1887, 
either elaborated on people having 
made visits to the house to obtain 



pieces of boards, to make a more in- 
teresting story, or else he misunder- 
stood Mrs. Mund, who spoke English 
but not fluently. 

"It is worthy of special note, however, 
that the reporter did not state that 
any one else had procured even a 
small piece. 

"After the article appeared Mrs. 
Mund told me that I was sole posses- 
sor of any part of the wood, which I 
saw taken up when the new floor was 
laid. Respectfully yours, 

CHARLES M. WALLINGTON, 

"Philadelphia Correspondent 'Com- 
mercial & Financial World' of New 
York City, 543 West street, Camden, 
N. J." 

On September 12, 1908, this piece of 
flooring was exhibited at a special 
meeting of the Daughters of the 
American Revolution, held at the resi- 
dence of Major T. Worcester Worrell 
in Frankford, Pa., at which several 
hundred direct descendants of soldiers 
of The American Revolution were 
present and at which time the writer 
being called upon, made some re- 
marks in connection with this relic. 

"The Philadelphia Telegraph" of 
September 12, 1908, noticed this meet- 
ing in the following article: 

"WHERE BETSY ROSS TROD." 

"Original Flag House Flooring Viewed 

by Daughters of the Revolution." 

"The stately old mansion No. 4356 
Tacony street, Frankford, the resi- 
dence of Major T. Worcester Worrell, 
principal of the Bridesburg Public 
School, will be the mecca this after- 
noon of over a hundred direct des- 
cendants of soldiers of the American 
Revolution, who will call to examine a 
piece of the original flooring of the 
room in which Betsy Ross made the 
American first flag. 

"Flag house Chapter Daughters of 
American Revolution, of which Mrs. 
T. Worcester Worrell, is the Regent, 
will be present in a body at the house, 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



and pay their respects to the piece of 
wood, that to patriotic minds, means 
so much. 

"The section of flooring-, the au- 
thenticity of which is assured by 
ample records, is the property of Mr. 
Oliver Randolph Parry, and will be 
presented by him to the Bucks Coun- 
ty Historical Society. 

"In no more appropriate place could 
the relic be exhibited than in the resi- 
dence of Major and Mrs. Worrell, as 
the roomy old mansion is filled with 
Colonial mementoes as well as memo- 
ries." 

I will also read in part from "The 
Record" of the same date as follows: — 

"BETSY ROSS WALKED ON IT." 

"Daughters of American Revolution 

Inspect Prized Relic." 

"Part of the original flooring of the 
room in which Betsy Ross is said to 
have made the first American flag was 
on exhibition yesterday, to the Daugh- 
ters of the American Revolution, in 
the stately old mansion of Major T. 
Worcester Worrell, Principal of the 
Bridesburg Public School. Mrs. Wor- 
rell, who is regent of the Flag House 
Chapter of the Daughters entertained 
er chapter royally in the roomy old 
mansion, so filled with Colonial me- 
mentos. 

That this portion of flooring, which 
is the property of Oliver Randolph 
Parry, and will be presented by him to 
the Bucks County Historical Society, 
is an authentic specimen, is vouched 
for by many records now in possession 
of Mr. Parry." 

Other Philadelphia papers, copies of 
which the writer did not procure also 
•contain notices. 

You will observe historical cuts 
pasted on this interesting relic, one of 
which shows the house during the oc- 
cupancy of Mr. Mund who was the 
owner of the premses for a long time 
and was succeeded by his widow. 

There is also another identical cut of 



this house in the possession of, and 
hanging upon the walls of General 
George Meade, Post No. 2, of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, in the 
Odd Fellows' Temple, Philadelphia, 
Pa., as stated in a letter of March 3,. 
1908, from Mr. C. M. Wallington to me 
as follows: — 

Camden, Tuesday night, 
March 3, 1908. 
"Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 

"Dear Sir: — 

"At the headquarters of the Meade 
Grand Army Post, Odd Fellows' 
Temple, Broad and Cherrly streets, 
there is a photograph of the Old Flag 
House. It shows the old tree at the 
front, and upon a sign is: 

" 'G. Franke, Tailor.' 

"There is nothing to indicate its age. 

"Whether Mr. Mund succeeded 
Franke, I do not know. 

"I tried to get at the old Flag House 
to-day — a picture of Betsy Ross' grave 
in Mt. Moriah Cemetery — but could 
not. 

"A picture of the grave can be ob- 
tained at Newell & Sons photographic 
studio, on the north side of Arch 
street, below Seventh, 

"Respectfully yours, 
"CHAS. M. WALLINGTON. 
543 West street, Camden, N. J." 

This certainly would indicate that as 
back as several generations ago (and 
previous to the occupancy of the 
Munds) the popular belief was that in 
this house of Betsy Ross, previously 
noted, was made the first adopted 
flag of the United States. 

The inscription over the pew of 
Betsy Ross in Christ Church, Philadel- 
phia, also bears out this belief, and I 
will read another letter from Mr. Wal- 
lington in this connection as follows: — 

Camden, N. J., Wed., Feb. 26, 1908. 
"Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 

"Dear Sir: — 

"I entered Old Christ Church yester* 
day and sought the pew of Betsy Rosa. 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



It is number 12, on the north side <y 
the middle seats, near pulpit. TIu. 
pew will comfortably seat two person^ 
-and is less than half the length of 
those in general in tin; middle of the 
church on account of a long wooden 
pillar, to which is affixed a silk flag 
about three feet long, with stick. The 
flag is somewhat soiled and dusty 
from its almost seventeen years quiet- 
ude in its fixed position. But what 
struck me most forcibly, was it? 
modern design in the arrangement anc 
number of stars in the blue union 
The design should have been that 
which was chosen by the Committee 
of the Continental Congress, and 
which Betsy Ross made. 

"On the wooden columns is a large 
brass plate, ten inches long and five 
inches wide, upon which is a resemb- 
lance of the original flag; under which 
is engraved: 

" 'Here Worshipped 
Mrs. Elizabeth Ross 
Who under the Directions 
of a Committee of 
Continental Congress 
Composed of 
George Washington 
Robert Morris 
and 
George Ross 
Was the Maker of the 
First American Flag 
1777.' 
"There are two cards attached to 
the stick of the flag, upon which the 
■writing is pale, but discernable. 
"Upon one: 

" 'In Honor of Elizabeth Claypole 

Who Made the 

First American Flag 

(Stars and Stripes) 

And Who At One Time 

Occupied This Pew 
Placed Here Flag Day 
June 14, 1891 
By A Member of the 
Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion.' 



"Upon the second was written: 

" 'Maiden Name 

Elizabeth Griscome 

First Husband 

John Ross 

Second Husband 

Ashburn 

Third Husband 

Claypole 

She Was A Widow of John Rosa 

When She Made the Flag 

She Was Quite Young 

At the Time.' 

"Yours, 

"CHAS. M. WALLINGTON, 

"Philadelphia Correspondent 'Com- 
mercial & Financial World' of New 
York City, 543 West street, Camden, 
N. J." 

There is also much evidence at hand 
which points to the belief we all have 
had, and I might say, been taught in 
schools, and through word of mouth of 
our progenitors, and unless we dis- 
believe all this, and credit them with 
being grossly mistaken or untruthful, 
it would seem as though we must ac- 
cept the belief that Betsy Ross did 
make the first adopted flag of the 
United States, especially as no one has 
been able to state delinitely who else 
did make it, and in just what building 
the same was first designed and made. 
Until recent years, when a few have 
held a different opinion, no doubt was 
apparently expressed as to any other 
maker of our flag than Betsy Ross, 
and of its birth place, in what is now 
239 Arch street, in the city of Philadel- 
phia. 

While the writer believes the burden 
of settling the question, if Betsy Ross 
did not make the first United States 
flag, rests on the ability of those who 
doubt the same, proving who did and 
where, rather than a defence on the 
part of the general public, who believe 
Betsy Ross did make it, the writer 
nevertheless, for the benefit of those 



8 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



present, will submit extracts from 
such data as he has had given him, 
and which he will turn over in full to 
this Society. 

In connection with, our flag it might 
be well to state that at first many 
flags of different designs were used, 
some of which were state flags, such 
as the Pine Tree flag of Maine, others 
like the snake flags (don't tread on 
me) and later on, some with the stripes 
and the snake, and just before the 
adoption of our "first flag," that 
known as the "Grand Union" flag with 
stripes and the English Union in the 
corner. 

This latter flag was probably in use 
about a year; yet so far, no 
mention of same has been found in 
any official records, as the writer has 
been repeatedly assured. The first 
mention of any flag seeming to be the 
resolution of Congress adopting our 
first flag of stars and stripes, on 
June 14, 1777, as per photograph of ori- 
ginal manuscript, on exhibit with the 
piece of flooring to-day, and which 
hereby also becomes the property of 
our society. As in a year's time 
no notice was taken officially of 
the Grand Union flag, and as it no 
doubt took some time to order ma- 
terial and make same into flags after 
the design of our United States flag 
had been definitely decided upon, and 
as the government was probably not 
in too great a hurry to pay bills at 
this time, it seems as though the flag 
must have been first made previous to 
June 14, 1777, or some time in 1776, 
when General "Washington may have 
been in Philadelphia. Besides this— 
we have the recollections of 
the family as per affidavits to be 
presented below, and the likelihood 
that previous to the Declaration of 
Independence when the flag was made, 
in accordance with the following affi- 
davits — great secrecy was a necessity 
in a matter of this kind, and no official 



notice could be taken of the same; 
then it is likely in the strenuous times 
that followed, what then seemed more 
important matters were given atten- 
tion, rather than the flag, and indeed 
for many years afterward the matter 
of the flag-maker was not so much 
thought of, evidently the great his- 
torical importance not being then fully 
realized. 

It is intersting to note, that in both 
the paintings of the artists, Charles 
Wilson Peale (captain of a company 
in the Battle of Trenton) showing 
General Washington at the Battle of 
Trenton, and John Trumbull (aide-de- 
camp to General Washington at the 
Battles of Trenton and Princeton) 
both show our flag as adopted by 
Congress. These men were known for 
their great accuracy of details and are 
presumed not to have deliberately 
erred in this one most important 
particular. 

It may also be of interest to note 
that probably the first instance of any 
flag containing stripes being carried by 
any of our troops, was that of the 
First Troop of Philadelphia, which 
acted as an escort to General Wash- 
ington in June of 1775, and carried a 
flag with small silver stripes in the 
corner, which was presented to the 
troop by its first Captain Abraham 
Markoe, whose descendents still are 
living in Philadelphia. 

There was no change in the flag un- 
til May 1, 1795, when two extra stripes 
were added for the States of Vermont 
and Kentucky, which had come into 
the Union. After this there was no 
change until 1818, when provision was 
made for the addition of a star for 
each State which subsequently should 
come into the union, and thirteen 
stripes forever' 

It was at the bombardment of Fort 
McHenry in 1812 " that the "Star 
Spangled Banner" was written by 
Francis Scott Key, who was an aid- 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



de-camp to General Smith, who was in 
charge of the defence of Baltimore. 

It is well to note that the old num- 
ber of the Flag House as previously 
mentioned was No. 89 (See MacPher- 
son's and White's directories from the 
first part of 1786 to the time of Betsy's 
and her husband's removal to Second 
street near Walnut street in 1791) and 
it was in No. 89 Arch street (now No. 
239) that she lived at the time of 
making the first flag, as she told her 
daughters, and as since has come 
down to her great-great-grandson, 
Mr. Lloyd Balderstson, Jr. 

Note: For other places of residence 
of Betsy Ross see "Claypoole Genea- 
olosies." 

Elizabeth Claypole, (Betsy Ross), 
gave up the business of flag making 
in about 183 3 and lived with her son- 
in-law Edward Satterthwaite, in Ab- 
ington, Montgomery county, Pa. She 
returned to Philadelphia however, 
about 1835, and during the short re- 
mainder of her life lived with the 
family of her daughter, Jane Canby, 
where she died on January 3 0th, 
1836, at the age of 84 years. She 
and her husband had joined the So- 
ciety of Free Quakers shortly after 
its establishment, and both were 
buried in the burying ground of that 
denomination, on South Fifth street 
below Locust. Their remains in 1857 
were transferred to a lot in Mount 
Moriah Cemetery — and a movement 
is now on foot to re-interr her re- 
mains in a more conspicuous part of 
the grounds — and erect an imposing 
mausoleum to her memory. The 
cost of the same to be born by a 
number of patriotic societies. See 
account in Philadelphia Inquirer of 
December 13th, 1908. 

No portrait of Elizabeth Claypole 
(Betsy Ross) exists in so far as is 
known. A miniature of one of her 
daughters, by Rembrandt Peale, 



made about 1806, and one of another 
daughter, believed to be by the same 
artist, are in existence; but the 
mother is thought to never have sat 
for her portrait. 

As a young woman from all ac- 
counts Betsy Ross was very vivacious 
and attractive, as well as handy with 
the needle. 

Elizabeth Claypole (Betsy Ross) 
told the story of having made the 
first flag on many occasions to her 
daughters, nieces, grand- daughters 
and others. The younger women 
who helped her in making flags nat- 
urally heard it most frequently, and 
these included at different times, 
many relatives, but it never likely oc- 
cured to any of them that there was 
any particular reason for publishing 
the story, and as none of them were 
especially literary, they thought lit- 
tle of the subject, at the time, and no 
doubt supposed the facts being so 
clear, would be retold, either from 
the records of the government or 
the papers of the distinguished men 
to whom the facts were so well 
known. In 1857, when Clarissa Sydney 
Wilson, the oldest Claypole daughter 
of Elizabeth Claypole (Betsy Ross) 
and her successor in business, was re- 
tiring from the business and moving 
from Philadelphia to Fort Madison, 
Iowa, she gave the subject some 
thought and requested her nephew, 
William J. Canby, to transcribe the 
story at her dictation and as she had 
often heard her mother tell it, prob- 
ably even then having in mind, a de- 
sire to simply perpetuate the story 
for its interest to the descendants of 
the maker of the first of our now 
glorious flag. 

Whatever may have been her pur- 
pose in making the request she did 
have her nephew take down the 
story from her own lips; but nothing 
was done to make public the notes; 
until some years later, when William 



10 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



J. Canby compiled the same, and at 
which time the aunt who had re- 
quested him to write the story had 
already died. 

The following are affidavits from a 
daughter, a niece, grand-daughter, 
grand-nieces, etc. of Betsy Ross and 
speak for themselves. The reference 
to "The first American flag, and who 
made it" refers to the article by Mr. 
Canby to which affidavits were at- 
tached. 

AFFIDAVIT NO. 1 By Sophia B. 
Hildebrandt. 

I remember to have heard my 
grandmother, Elizabeth Claypole, 
frequently narrate the circumstance 
of her having made the first Star 
Spangled Banner; that it was a speci- 
man flag made to order of a commit- 
tee of Congress, acting in conjunction 
with General Washington, who call- 
ed upon her personally at her store 
on Arch street, below Third street, 
Philadelphia, shortly before the Dec- 
laration of Independence that she 
said that General Washington made a 
redrawing of the design with his own 
hands after some suggestions made 
by her; and that this specimen flag 
was exhibited in Congress by a com- 
mittee, with a report, and that the 
flag and report were approved and 
adopted by Congress, and she re- 
ceived an unlimited order from the 
committee to make flags for the gov- 
ernment; and to my knowledge she 
continued to manufacture the gov- 
ernment flags for about fifty years, 
when my mother succeeded her in 
the business, in which I assisted. I 
believe the facts stated in the fore- 
going article entitled "The First 
American Flag, and Who Made It" 
are all strictly true. 

Witness my hand and seal at 
Philadelphia, the twenty-seventh day 
of May A. D. 1870. 

S. B. HILDEBRANDT. 

Witnesses present, Isaac Oakford, 
Charles H. Evans. 



State of Pennsylvania, 
City of Philadelphia, ss 

On the Twenty-Seventh day of 
May A. D. 1870, Before me Charles 
H. Evans, a Notary Public in and 
for the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, duly commissioned, residing in 
the said City of Philadelphia person- 
ally appeared the within named So- 
phia B. Hildebrandt, who being duly 
affirmed did depose and say that the 
statements within certified to by her 
are strictly true, according to the 
best of her knowledge and belief, and 
that she is the daughter of Clarissa 
S. Wilson, who was a daughter of 
Elizabeth Claypole. 

Affirmed and subscribed before me f 
this day and year aforesaid. 

Witness my hand and Notorial seal, 
S. B. HILDEBRANT. 
Charles H. Evans, Notary Public. 

Sophia Hildebrant was the daugh- 
ter of Clarissa S. Wilson before men- 
tioned, who was a daughter of Eliza- 
beth Claj'pole (Betsy Ross). 

AFFIDAVIT NO. 2 By Margaret 
Boggs. 
I, Margaret Boggs, of the City of 
Philadelphia, widow, do hereby certi- 
fy that I have heard my aunt, Eliza- 
beth Claj^pole, say many times that 
she made the first Star Spangled Ban- 
ner that ever was made with her own 
hands; that she made it on an order 
of General Washington and a com- 
.mittee of the Continental Congress, 
who together called personally upon 
her at her house on the north side of 
Arch stree A below Third, Philadel- 
phia, some time previously to the 
Declaration of Independence. That 
they brought with them a drawing, 
roughly made, of the proposed flag; 
that she said it was wrong, and pro- 
posed alterations, which Washing- 
ton and Committee approved; that 
one of these alterations was in re- 
gard to the number of points to the 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



11 



star; that she said that it should be 
■five pointed and showed them how to 
fold a piece of paper in the proper 
manner, and with one cut of the 
scissors, to make a five pointed star; 
that General Washington sat at her 
table in a back parlor, where they 
were, and made a drawing of the 
flag embodying her suggestions, and 
that she made the flag according to 
this drawing, and the Committee car- 
ried it before Congress by whom it 
was approved and adopted. That 
she received orders to make flags for 
the Government as fast as possible, 
and from that time forward for up- 
ward of fifty years she made all the 
flass made for the United States in 
Philadelphia, and largely for the 
■other naval stations. I was for many 
yesrs a member of her family, and 
aided her in the business. I believe 
the facts stated in the foregoing ar- 
ticle, entitled "The First American 
Flag, and Who Made It," which has 
been read to me, are all strictly true. 

Witness my hand at Germantown, 
in the city of Philadelphia, this 
third day of June, A. D. 18 7 0. 

MARGARET BOGGS. 

Witnesses present, Charles B. 
Engle, Stephen T. Beale. 

State of Pennsylvania, 
■City of Philadelphia, ss. 

On the Third day of June A. D. 
18 7 before me Charles B. Engle, a 
Notary Public in and for the Com- 
monwealth of Pennsylvania, duly 
commissioned, residing in the said 
city of Philadelphia, personally ap- 
peared the within named Margaret 
Boggs, who being duly affirmed did 
depose and say that the statements 
within certified to be hers are all 
strictly true, according to the best of 
her knowledge and belief, and that 
she is a daughter of Sarah Donald- 
son, who was a sister of Elizabeth 
Claypoole. 



Affirmed and subscribed before me 
day and year aforesaid. 

Witness my hand and Notarial Seal 
M. BOGGS. 

Charles B. Engle, Notary Public. 

NOTE: It is of importance to call 
attention to the fact that Margaret 
Boggs was actually associated in 
business with Betsy Ross and as a 
partner of course paid particular at- 
tention to the statement of Betsy 
Ross about making the first United 
States flag of stars and stripes, which 
she in turn told to her nieces and 
nephews direct. 

AFFIDAVIT NO. 3 By Rachael 
Fletcher. 

I remember having heard my 
mother, Elizabeth Claypoole, say fre- 
quent^ that she with her own hands 
(while she was the widow of John 
Ross) made the first Star Spangled 
Banner that ever was made. I re- 
member to have heard her also say 
that it was made on order of a com- 
mittee, of whom Col. Ross was one, 
and that Robert Morris was aiso one 
of the committee. That General 

Washington, acting in conference 
with the committee called with them 
at her house. This house was on 
the north side of Arch street a few 
doors below Third street, above 
Bread street, a two story house with 
an attic and dormer window, now 
standing, the only one of the row 
left, the old number being 89; it was 
formerly occupied by Daniel Niles, 
a shoemaker. Mother at first lived 
in the house next, east and when the 
war came she moved into the house 
of Daniel Niles. That it was in the 
month of June, 1776, or shortly be- 
fore the Declaration of Independence 
that the committee called on her. 
That the member of the committee 
named Ross was an uncle of her de- 
ceased, husband. That she was pre- 
viously acquainted with Washing- 
ton, and that he had often been in 
her house in friendly visits, as well 



12 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



as on business. That she had em- 
broidered ruffles for his shirt bosom 
and cuffs, and that it was partly ow- 
ing to his friendship for her that she 
was chosen to make the flag. That 
when the Committee (with General 
Washington) came into her store she 
showed them into her parlor back of 
the store, and one of them asked her 
if she could make the flag, and that 
she replied that she did not know, 
but she could try. That they then 
showed her a drawing, roughly exe- 
cuted, of the flag as it was proposed 
to be made by the committee, and 
that she saw in it some defects in its 
proportions and the arrangement and 
the shape of the stars. That she said 
it was square and that a flag should 
be one-third longer than its width, 
that the stars were scattered promis- 
cuously over the field, and she said 
that they should be in lines, or in 
some adopted form, as a circle or a 
star and that the stars were six 
pointed in the drawing and she said 
they should be five pointed that the 
gentlemen of the committee and Gen- 
eral Washington very respectfully 
considered the suggestions and acted 
upon them. General Washington 
seated himself at a table with a pen- 
cil and paper, altered the drawing 
and they made a new one according 
to the suggestions of my mother. 
That General Washington seemed to 
her to be the active one in making 
the design the others having little or 
nothing to do with it. That the com- 
mittee then requested her to call on 
one of their number, a shipping mer- 
chant on the wharf and then ad- 
journed. That she was punctual to 
her appointment, and then the gen- 
tleman drew out of a chest an old 
ship's color which he loaned her te 
show her how the sewing was done, 
and also gave her the drawing finish- 
ed according to her suggestions. That 
this drawing was done in water col- 



ors by William Barrett, an artist 
who lived on the north side of Cherry 
street above Third street, a large 
three story brick house on the west 
side of an alley which ran back to 
the Pennsylvania Academy for 

Young Ladies, kept by James A. 
Neal, the best school of the kind in 
the city at that time. That Barrett 
only did the painting, and he had 
nothing to do with the design. He 
was often employed by mother af- 
terwards, to paint the coats of arms 
of the United States and of the 
States on silk flags. That other de- 
signs had also been made by the 
committee and given to other seam- 
stresses to make but that they were 
not approved. That mother went 
diligently to work on her flag and 
soon finished it, and returned it, the 
first Star Spangled Banner that was 
ever made, to her employers; that it 
was run up to the peak of one of the 
vessels belonging to one of the com- 
mittee then lying at the wharf, and 
was received with shouts of applause 
by the few bystanders who happened 
to be looking on. That the commit- 
tee on the same day carried the flag 
into Congress, sitting in the State 
House, and made a report presenting 
the flag and the drawing, and that 
Congress unanimously approved and 
accepted the report. That the next 
day Col. Ross called upon my mother 
and informed her that her work had 
been approved, and her flag adopted, 
and he gave orders for the purchase 
of all the materials, and the manu- 
facture of as many flags as she could 
make. And from that time forward 
for over fifty years she continued to 
make flags for the United States Gov- 
ernment. 

I believe the facts stated in the 
foregoing articles, entitled, "The 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



13 



First American Flag, and Who Made 
It," are all strictly true. 

RACHAEL FLETCHER. 

This affidavit having been signed 
by Rachael Fletcher with violet ink, 
the signature has faded, but at this 
time seventh month 24th, 1908, still 
plainly legible. 

I, Mary Fletcher Wigert, daughter 
of said Rachael Fletcher, recognize 
the signature in the rectangular 
space outlined in black above, as the 
signature of my mother. 

Signed in the presence of Mary W. 
Miller, Philadelphia, Seventh Mo. 
24th, 1908. 

Rachael Fletcher, 
Mary Fletcher Wigert 
State of New York 
City of New York, ss 

On the 31st, day of July A. D. 1871. 
Before me the subscriber a Notary 
Public in and for the Commonwealth 
of New York, duly commissioned, re- 
siding in the said city of New York, 
personally appeared the above named 
Rachael Fletcher. Who being duly 
affirmed did depose and say that the 
statements above certified to by her 
are all strictly true according to the 
best of her knowledge and belief, and 
that she is the daughter of Elizabeth 
Claypoole. 

Affirmed and subscribed before me 
the day and year aforesaid. 

Witness my hand and Notarial seal 
TH. J. M'EVILY, 

Notary Public, 
City and County, New York. 
State of Pennsylvania, 
County of Delaware, ss 

Before me, Percival V. Cooper, a 
duly commissioned Justice of the 
Peace in and for the Borough of 
Media, County and State aforesaid, 
personally appeared Rupert Griscom 
Beale, who being duly sworn accord- 
ing to law doth depose and say; that 
the attached copies of affidavits of 
Margaret Boggs, Rachael Fletcher 
and Sophia B. Hildebrant are true, 



accurate, verbatim copies of the ori- 
ginal affidavits. 

Witness Signed 

Charles A. Schlachter 

Rupert Griscom Beale 
Harry V. Tomlinson 

Sworn and subscribed to before me 
this 12th day of January A. D. 1909. 
PERCIVAL V. COOPER, 

Justice of the Peace. 
My Commission expires May 6, 1912. 
NOTE: — The foregoing affidavits 
are copies from the original affidavits 
attached to an article by William J. 
Canby read before the Historical So- 
ciety of Pennsylvania March 14th, 
1870, and now in the possession of 
Mr. Lloyd Balderston, West Chester, 
Pa. 

AFFIDAVIT NO. 4. 
BETSY ROSS, AS I KNEW HER 

AND FROM FAMILY RECORDS. 

MRS. SUSAN M'CORD TURNER'S 

RECOLLECTION OF HER 

GRAND-AUNT, BETSY ROSS. 



I am grand-daughter of Captain 
William Donaldson, a sailor who 
fought in the Revolutionary War and 
the grand-daughter of Corporal 
Mark McCord in Colonel Richard 
Hampton's Tenth Pennsylvania 

Regiment, who died in the ser- 
vice, and I am a member of the 
Society of the Daughters of the 
American Revolution. 

Mark McCord's son, David, married 
Sarah Donaldson, these were my 
father and mother. 

Sarah Donaldson was the daughter 
of Captain William Donaldson and 
Sarah Griscom, his wife. 

6arah Griscom, my grand-mothei, 
,vas the sister of Elizabeth Griscom. 
the "Betsy Ross" of history. These 
two were sisters of Deborah, Susan, 
Mary, Hannah, George and Rachel 
Griscom. 

I am therefore the grand-niece of 
Betsy Ross. I have vivid personal 



14 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



recollections of her as 'Aunty Clay- 
poole (then pronounced as Claypole). 
She was small of stature and was 
beautiful even in her old age. She 
died in 1836. 

Betsy was married three times. 
Her first husband was John Ross, the 
son of an Episcopal clergyman, and 
a nephew of Colonel Ross of the 
Flag Committee. Her husband was 
killed by an explosion of gun powder 
on the wharf, and Betsy continued 
the business of upholstery that they 
together had established in the Arch 
street store. 

It was as the widow Ross that she 
made the first flag. To her belongs 
the credit of suggesting the five 
pointed star. It is literally true that 
she cut a five pointed star out of pa- 
per and showed it to the committee. 
She was an excellent needle wo- 
man and a fine houseekeeper, as were 
most of the ladies of that time. Be- 
ing attractive as well as young (in 
her twenty-fourth year) she was 
courted and married by Captain Ash- 
burn, a gallant sailor and patriot who 
together with his brother-in-law, 
Captain Donaldson, was captured by 
a British vessel and carried to Lon- 
don. 

The two were confined in Mill 
prison. Other American patriots 
shared their captivity. Although 
rebels, they had the sympathy of 
many London people. One humble 
admirer and friend was a baker, who 
furnished bread to the prisoners. 
Whenever news favorable to the col- 
onies was received, this good man in- 
formed the prisoners through scraps 
of paper concealed in one of their 
loaves. 

The prison officials suspected a 
leak, but failed to detect the offender 
until the news of the surrender of 
Cornwallis reached London. The 
captive Americans knew of the vic- 
tory before the news had reached the 
outskirts of the city. A rigid inves- 



tigation resulted in the detection of 
the friendly baker. He was hanged 
as a traitor. 

Our patriots, overjoyed at the 
news, gave vent to their feeling in re- 
peated cheers; the jailers thought 
that their prisoners had gone mad. 
All participated but Captain Ash- 
burn, who sat quietly in his chair. 
When addressed, he made no reply. 
An examination revealed the fact 
that he was dead. Joy had killed 
him. 

It was a sad party that returned to 
Philadelphia after the war and a sad 
duty devolved upon Captain Donald- 
son, who asked John Claypoole to in- 
form Betsy Ross of her second be- 
reavement. 

Mr. Ross left no issue, but Betsy 
and Captain Ashburn had two chil- 
dren. One died in infancy, the other, 
Eliza, married Captain Stilliman, 
who left four children, Ashburn, 
William, Harriet and Amelia. The 
last named married Mr. Boyd. 

Betsy's third husband was John 
Claypoole. They had four children: 
Clarissa, who married' Mr. Wilson; 
Rachel, who married Mr. Fletcher; 
Susanna, who married Mr. Sather- 
waite, and Jane who married Mr. 
Canby. Our cousin, George Canby, 
son of the last named couple, informs 
me that the family made flags for the 
government until 1857. 

Betsy and her husband joined the 
"Free Quakers" and their signatures 
appear on the records of that society. 
Through the kindness of the cus- 
todians of the book of signatures, 
George Canby was enabled to obtain 
fac-similes of the signatures of John 
and Elizabeth. It is an interesting 
fact that upon the same page ap- 
pears the signature of Lydia Dar- 
ragh, the patriotic girl, who notified 
Washington of the contemplated at- 
tack of the British. You are all fa- 
miliar with the narrative. 

To return -to Captain Donaldson — 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



15 



he was a brother of Arthur Donald- 
son, who built the chevaux-de- 
frise or chain guard across the Dela- 
ware channel and he assisted in its 
construction. 

Aunty Claj'poole's second residence 
was on Front street below Walnut, 
the grounds running to Dock street. 
At that time Dock street was a creek 
that ran up to Fourth street. I rec- 
ollect the house well. It was quite 
large with commodious parlors, large 
dining, butler's room and kitchen, 
and a bath room, not so common an 
apartment as now. 

At this time, Betsy had retired 
from active business. She had be- 
come blind. The upholstering was 
carried on in the family; my brother, 
Charles McCord, establishing a 

branch in Mobile, which he main- 
tained until his death, subsequent to 
the Civil War. 

During the Revolution, the patri- 
otic women spun their flax and wool 
and wove the fabrics from which 
their clothing was made. Betsy's sis- 
ter (Mrs. Hannah Lovering) out 
cloth and discarded clothing into 
strips and wove them into carpet. 
This Is said to be the first "rag car- 
pet" made in Philadelphia. 

Betsy's sister, Sarah Donaldson, my 
grandmother, was wounded by the 
fire of a British sentry from the 
landing place near the foot of Mar- 
ket street. She, her husband and 
babe, afterwards Mrs. Margaret 
Boggs and a negro boy were in a 
yawl and the boat was hailed by a 
sentry with orders to come to land or 
she would be fired into. Captain 
Donaldson was indignant, and defy- 
ing the sentry dared him to "fire." 
The sentry did so and my grand- 
mother was shot through the wrist. 

Betsy's father was Samuel Gris- 
come, who married Rebecca James. 
He had a lumber yard bounded by 
Arch street and Race street and 
Third and Fourth streets. The stock 



was consumed by an incendiary fire 
that the primitive apparatus of the 
day could not control. He then lo- 
cated on Front street. 

John Ross' father was Reverend 
Aeneas Ross, of New Castle, Delaware, 
assistant in Christ Church in the city 
of Philadelphia and Rector of Old 
Trinity (Oxford) Church, above 
Frankford. He officiated at the same 
time that music was "led" by Demas 
Worrell the great-great-grandfather 
of my granddaughter, Edna Ran- 
dolph Worrell. 

Betsy was not only attractive per- 
sonally, but her soul was adorned 
with the Christian graces. She was 
proverbially charitable. Many gifts 
gladdened the inmates of the old 
"Bettering House." Mother's sister, 
"Peggy" Donaldson, Mrs. Edward 
Boggs, who died in Germantown in 
187 6, aged one hundred years, five 
months and some days and others, 
told of the loaves of bread and par- 
cels of tea that Betsy frequently sent 
to the above institution. I once when 
a very little girl went on this errand 
with my half-sister, Harriet. The 
inmates were neatly dressed in caps, 
kerchiefs and mitts, and a stranger 
could not tell from their appearance 
whether they were privileged visitors 
or members of the household. There 
was also a Quaker almshouse at Wal- 
nut street above Third where the 
carefully tended garden furnished 
herbs used in that day and many a 
cold was cured by the medicated 
candy made by these old ladies. 

I have necessarily brought the 
family history into this narrative, but 
will close by explaining how Betsy 
became a business woman. 

The business was established by a 
Mr. Webster, who employed John 
Ross. Join) Ross learned the trade 
and married Betsy so they naturally 
succeeded Mr. Webster. Betsy's skill 
and taste were important factors in 
the success of their enterprise and 



16 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



they moved from the first business 
place on Chestnut street to more 
eligible quarters on Arch street, now 
called the "Flag House." 

Betsy's work on the first flag greatly 
pleased the Committee composed of 
General Washington, Colonel Ross 
and Robert Morris and she was direct- 
ed to purchase all the bunting avail" 
able in the town. She accepted the 
contract and for many years our kins- 
woman was enabled to furnish flags 
to the government. 

Betsy worshipped in Christ Church. 
Her pew is marked. The remains of 
her first husband lie in the church 
yard. 

Susan McCord Turner 
Witness at signing 
Annie E. Gormley 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: 
City and County of Philadelphia: ss* 

Before me the subscriber a Notary 
Public for the Commonwealth afore- 
said residing in the said City personal- 
ly appeared Susan McCord Turner who 
being duly sworn according to law 
did depose and say that the facts 
and statements set forth in the above 
or foregoing pages are true to the 
best of her knowledge and belief. 

Susan M. Turner 

Sworn and subscribed to before me 
this Seventh day of January A. D. 
1909. 

EDWIN STEARNE, 
Notary Public. 
Commission expires January 13, 1909. 

NOTE: The writer would like to 
state that he within a year, personally 
had a long and interesting talk with 
the above grandniece of Betsy Ross 
and found Mrs. Turner's mind clear 
and full of most interesting anecdotes 
relating to this and other historical 
subjects. She is most wonderfully pre- 
served and an interesting woman and 
ninety-one years of age, and is I be- 
lieve present here to-day. 



AFFIDAVIT NO. 5 Mrs. Margaret 
McCord Smith. 

I am the youngest daughter of 
David and Sarah McCord. David Mc- 
Cord was the son of Corporal Mark 
McCord who served during the Revo- 
lutionary War in Colonel Richard 
Humpton's 10th Penna., Regiment. He 
was wounded and died three weeks 
afterwards, from the effects of his 
wounds. (He received hororable men- 
tion at the time he obtained a furlough 
after being wounded.) 

My mother, Sarah Donaldson Mc- 
Cord, was the daugnter of Captain 
William Donaldson, and his wife / 
Sarah Griscom Donaldson. Sarah 
Griscom Donaldson was the daughter «• 
of Andrew and Sarah Griscom, and a 
sister of Betsy Ross. After the death 
of my grandmother, my mother (then 
a child) went to live with her aunt, 
Deborah Bolton. After Deborah Bol- 
ton died in 1793, of the fever, my 
mother made her home with her aunt 
Betsy Claypoole, and stayed there un- 
til her marriage. I recollect my great- 
aunt Betsy Claypoole very distinctly. 
She was a beautiful little old lady with 
very blue eyes. When I was about 
ten years of age she was then living 
with her daughter, Mrs. Jane Canby, 
wife of Caleb Canby, on Cherry street 
a few doors above Fifth, at the corner 
of Cresson's Alley, in a large double 
three story brick house. I frequently 
went there, because my aunt Mrs. 
Margaret Donaldson Boggs boarded 
there with her aunt (Mrs. Claypoole) 
and was associated with her in the 
upolstery business. I recollect having 
heard mother say many times, that 
her aunt, Betsy Ross, made the first 
American flag, in the house on Arch 
street, below Third, present number 
239. After Betsy Ross made the first 
flag, she had orders from Colonel Ross 
to buy ur» all available bunting and 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



17, 



make flags. After the death of Mr. 
John Ross, his widow was married to 
Captain Joseph Ashburn. After the 
death of Captain Joseph Ashburn she 
was married to Mr. John Claypoole, a 
Custom House official. She still car- 
ried on the upholstery business and 
made flags for the government and 
mattresses for the ships on the Dela- 
ware river. 
Signed: 

MARGARET M'CORD SMITH. 
Witness: 

Coralie Rubens Freeman, 

Carrie E. Lake. 
State of Pennsylvania, 
Couty of Delaware, ss. 

Before me, Percival V. Cooper, a 
duly commissioned Justice of the 
Peace, in and for the Borough of 
Media, County and State aforesaid, 
personally^ appeared the above named 
Margaret McCord Smith, who being 
duly sworn according to law, doth de- 
pose and say that the above is true 
and accurate statement of facts. 

Sworn and subscribed to before me 
this 12th day of January A. D. 1909. 
PERCIVAL V. COOPER, 
Justice of the Peace. 

My commission expires May 6, 1912. 

The first death recorded by yellow 
fever in this country was that of the 
above Deborah Bolton in 1793. 

Margaret McCord Smith is in her 
87th year at the time of signing the 
above paper and I believe is with us 
to-day at this meeting. 
AFFIDAVIT NO. 6, of Susan Satter- 
thwaite Newport, and additionally, 

Mary Satterthwaite. 

I, Susan Satterthwaite Newport, of 
Abington township, Montgomery 

County, Pennsylvania, wife of David 
Newport of the same place, hereby 
certify that I have heard my mother, 
Susanna Satterthwaite, daughter of 
Betsy Ross, say many, many times 
that she (Betsy Ross) made the first 
United States flag with the stars and 



stripes, after a design submitted to 
her by General George Wahington, 
Colonel George Ross, and some other 
gentleman whose name I do not re- 
call, and that my mother repeated this 
as having been told to her by her 
mother Betsy (Ross) Claypoole. That 
Betsy Ross suggested some changes be 
made in the design of the flag; one 
being the changing of the stars from 
a six-pointed to a five-pointed star as 
being more symmetrical. 

These gentlemen went to see Betsy 
Ross at her home which was on the 
north side of Arch street, below Third 
street, the number was then 89, but 
now changed to 239, in this house she 
continued in the flag business, and 
later was assisted by her niece Mar- 
garet Donaldson Boggs, the business 
of flag making and upholstery increas- 
ed to such proportions that she em- 
ployed a large force of girls. She sub- 
sequently retired from the business 
and was succeeded in the work 
by her daughter, Clarissa Claypoole 
Wilson who continued it for years, 
the exact date of which I do not re- 
member. Subsequently she too retired 
from the business on account of 
conscientious scruples. 

My grandmother was so outspoken 
that when the British officers were in 
Philadelphia and quartered at her 
home they called her the "Little Rebel" 
by which name she became well 
known. Her intelligence and intellect 
characterized her as far above the 
average woman of the day. Her 
knowledge of the science of medicine 
was remarkable. She was an anti- 
Rushite and antagonistic to the use of 
calomel as a drug and the practice of 
bleeding, so prevalent in the early 
days of medicine. She investigated 
the curative powers of drugs, made 
many formulas and compounds which 
were eagerly sought by her friends and 
neighbors, who had confidence in her 
skill. One of her valuable formulas 



18 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



was for an excellent eye wash. Betsy 
Ross never went back to Friends' 
Meeting after having- been "read out" 
for marrying John Ross who was not 
a Friend but she subsequently joined 
the Free Quakers sometime after her 
marriage to John Claypoole. 
Signed: 

SUSAN S. NEWPORT, 
MARY SATTERTHWAITE. 

Witness: 
Clifton Cabell, 
David Newport, 
Chas. S. Kinsey. 
State of Pennsylvania, 
County of Delaware, ss. 

Before me Percival V. Cooper, a 
duly commissioned Justice of the 
Peace in and for the Borough of Media 
and State aforesaid, personally ap- 
peared Susan S. Newport and addi- 
tionally Mary Satterthwaite her sister, 
who being affirmed according to law, 
they each and jointly do depose and 
say that the statements subscribed to 
by them are true and accurate and so 
they do affirm. 

Affirmed and subscribed to before me 
this 12th day of January A. D. 1909. 
PERCIVAL V. COOPER, 
Justice of the Peace. 
My commission expires May 6, 1912. 

NOTE: Mrs. Susan Satterthwaite 
Newport is in her 82d year, Miss Mary 
Satterhwaite in her 84th year at the 
signing of the above paper and in ex- 
cellent mental and bodily health. 
They told the writer in addition, much 
that would be interesting anent this 
subject, but being extremely conscien- 
tious seemed desirous to have record- 
ed only that appearing above and 
which was sent the writer. 
AFFADAVIT NO. 7. cf seven great- 
grand-nephews and nieces of Betsy 

Ross. 

We, the undersigned, sons and 
daughters of the late Stephen Thomas 
Beale, M. D., D. D. S., and his wife 
Louise Boggs Beale, of Philadelphia, 



Pa., hereby certify that we have often 
heard our great-aunt Margaret Don- 
aldson Boggs (who resided with our 
parents for a period o1 rver thirty 
years) relate the history oi the making 
of the first U. S, flag, by Betsy Ross. 

Mrs. Margaret Donaldson Boggs was 
for many years associated in the up- 
holstery business with her aunt , Mrs. 
Elizabeth Griscome Claypoole, the 
Betsy Ross of history, Mrs. Boggs re- 
ceived from Mrs. Claypoole the follow- 
ing facts: That Mrs. Claypoole at that 
time Betsy Ross, widow of John Ross, 
upholsterer, received in person, at her 
home on Arch street (north side) below 
Third street, General Washington, 
Colonel Ross and Robert Morris, who 
submitted to her a design for a Nation- 
al flag. This design was changed in 
some particulars, and the work of 
making the flag was given to Mrs. 
Ross. 

Signed: 

JOSEPH BOGGS BEALE, 
ALBERT B. BEALE, 
HENRY B. BEALE, 
DANIEL S. BEALE, 
LOUISE BOGGS CULVER, 
CLARA S. BEALE BROOM, 
EMILY J. BEALE. 
Witnesses: 

Emily Isola Beale Cooper, 

Henry Moore, 

Helen J. Swanson, 

Richard Sloan, 

George L. Bockius, 

Helen J. Swanson. 
State of Pennsylvania, 
County of Delaware, ss. 

Before me Percival V. Cooper, a 
duly commissioned Justice of the 
Peace, in and for the Borough of 
Media, County and State aforesaid, 
personally appeared Joseph Boggs 
Beale, Albert B. Beale, Henry B. 
Beale, Daniel S. Beale, Louise Boggs 
Culver, Clara S. Beale Broom, and 
Emily J. Beale who being duiy sworn 
according to law, they each and jointly 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



19 



do depose and say that the facts 
herewith subscribed to are true and 
accurate statements of fact. 

JOSEPH B. BEALE, 
Signed: 

ALBERT B. BEALE, 
HENRY B. BEALE, 
DANIEL S. BEALE, 
LOUISE BOGGS CULVER, 
CLARA S. BEALE BROOM, 
EMILY J. BEALE. 
Witnesses: 

Chas. E. McClellan, 
Andrew F. Hammond, 
John Kerr, 
William R. McNeill, 
Chas. E. McClellan. 
Chas. E. McClellan. 
Sworn and subscribed to before me 
this 12th day of January A. D., 1909. 
PERCIVAL V. COOPER, 
Justice of the Peace. 
My commission expires May 6, 1912. 

AFFIDAVIT NO. 8. Sarah M. Wil- 
son's Statement: 

The first American flag- was made by 
my great grandmother Betsy Ross at 
239 Arch street, Philadelphia, Pa., 
Copy made by me. I presented to 
Charles Wm. Smith of the Sons of the 
Revolution and Pioneer in saving the 
home. 

SARAH M. WILSON. 

Assistant Superintendent of Inde- 
pendence Hall. 

6-14-96. 

Note: Miss Wilson is a direct de- 
scendant of the maker of the flag and 
the writer regrets he was unfortunate 
in not being able personally to inter- 
view her before delivering this address. 
No. 9. Letters from Mary S. Garrett, 
a descendant of Betsy Ross. 

"Phila. August 3, 1892. 
"C. W. Smith, Esq., Philadelphia. 

"Dear Sir: I thank you for inquiry 
and fully appreciate your endeavor to 
restore and preserve the old homestead 
of my maternal ancestor, Mrs. John 
Ross, No. 239 Arch street, the de- 



signer and maker of the first American 
flag, combining thirteen stars and 
thirteen stripes. I cannot conceive 
any act more patriotic and which 
should receive the hearty support of 
the people of this country. Even in 
this historic old city, the old time land 
marks are making way to the march 
of business. I believe this is the only 
house now standing of Colonial times 
having a National record not owned 
by the city municipality, and I think 
it is next in importance and fully as 
dear to the hearts of the people as 
Independence Hall, itself, cementing 
the acts therein framed, and sym- 
bolizing a Nation of free people. 

What an electric thrill passes 
through the people of this Nation 
when this good old flag suffers insult, 
how many have sacrificed their lives 
for it; what is there dearer to the 
hearts of the people. It has been the 
theme of statesmen and forts the world 
over. 

"Would it not be a blot on the 
escutcheon of this country, that this 
hallowed pile of bricks (every one 
should be w T orth its weight in gold), 
should be crumbled to dust, and its 
patriotic memories destroyed forever; 
I canont find words to express my 
feelings at the very thought of this 
grand old building being destroyed for 
simply money gain. When there are 
so many wealthy patriotic people all 
over this country, men and women, 
many of whom would pay the price 
you mention out of their own pockets 
and not even feel it, as their names 
would be handed down to posterity, 
as having preserved this monument 
of the birth of the Nation? 
"Sincerely yours, 

"MARY S. GARRETT." 

In view of the present attempt of 
inconoclasts to discredit history bear- 
ing upon Betsy Ross and the first flag, 
the following certificate, signed and 
delivered in 1892 by three grandchil- 



20 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



dren of the first flag maker, this is 
interesting: 

Betsy Ross House, Birthplace of the 
United States Flag, 239 Arch street, 
Philadelphia, Penna., U. S. A. 
"We certify, this picture published 
by C. W. Smith, of Philadelphia cor- 
rectly represents the house, No. 239 
Arch street, Philadelphia, as it now 
appears, in which the first United 
States flag of thirteen stars and thir- 
teen stripes was made by our grand- 
mother, Mrs. John Ross, under the 
direction of the committee of the 
Continental Congress, of which her 
husband's uncle, Colonel George Ross, 
one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence, was chairman. It 
was made from a design furnished by 
General George "Washington, which 
she modified by changing the form and 
arrangement of the stars and the 
given proportion of the flag. 

"GEORGE CANBY, 

"MARY CANBY GULIN. 
"MARY SIDNEY GARRETT. 
(Signed) 
"Copywright C. W. Smith, 1892." 
Note: The picture referred to above 
is the well known cut of the flag house. 
The statements in the above affida- 
vits seem to show that Betsy Ross told 
various separate and distinct people, 
while the subject was still fresh in her 
mind, that she made a flag on or about 
June 1, 1776 to the order of General 
Washington, Robert Morris, and her 
husband's uncle Col. George Ross. 
Also that it was at her suggestion the 
stars were made five pointed and that 
the flag she then made, became the 
national standard of our country. 

In no respect, in so far as any 
recorded facts are concerned do they 
conflict, and it would therefore indi- 
cate that General Washington design- 
ed the flag of stars and stripes, and 
that Betsy Ross made the first flag 
from this design about a month be- 



fore the Declaration of Independence. 

It might also be born in mind that 
the three gentlemen might have been 
acting in accordance with the under- 
standing with the "secret committee" 
of which Robert Morris was chairman, 
and which would account for Betsy's 
reference to the committee in her con- 
versation with all the above people. 
The relationship between Col. Ross 
one of the members of the committee 
and signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, etc., with the flag maker 
must also be well considered. And in 
this connection it may be interesting 
to quote from an article by the Honor- 
able Hampton L. Carson entitled 
"Pennsylvania Defiance of the United 
States" in the November 1908 issue 
of Harper's Monthly Magazine, that 
"Judge George Ross, signer of the 
Declaration of Independence and a 
cousin of Betsy Ross who made the 
first American Flag" tried the cele- 
brated case of State, against the Unit- 
ed States Jurisdiction, growing out of 
the capture of the British cutter 
"Active" on the high seas in October 
1778, and which threatened bloodshed 
and possibly more dire results. 

Regarding the number of changes in 
the design of the first flag and wheth- 
er General Washington had in mind 
his coat of arms when the sketch was 
made, does not seem important to the 
writer as he believes no claim has ever 
been made that Betsy Ross designed 
the flag, only that she made the first 
flag and therefore any number of 
changes, in the design which she may 
have made from one to many, as 
testified in above affidavits is not es- 
sential to the main issue. 

In order to satisfy his own mind re- 
garding the truth of the flag's maker, 
etc., Mr. C. W. Smith sent the follow- 
ing letter to various historical socities 
throughout the country as well as 
personally investigated all available 
sources of local information and from 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



21. 



the answers received was perfectly 
satisfied of Betsy Ross being the 
maker, the time 1776, and the place 
239 Arch street or what we now know 
as the flag house. 

May 12, 1892. 
"Sec'y, Respected Sir: 

From the information you have, be 
good enough to answer the following: 

1st. Where was the first battle of 
the Revolution fought, and authentical 
authority for same? 

2d. Where was the first flag of the 
United States made? 

3d. By whom was it made? 

4th. Location of the house? 

5th. In which building in Philadel- 
phia was the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence signed? Yours truly, 

C. W. SMITH." 
May 18, 1892. 

Two of the various answers rrom 
Historical Societies (one of which is 
generally conceded to be quite the 
best equipped and most accurate in the 
United States) were as follows: 
"Dear Sir: 

Your letter of this date to hand. I 
make the following replies to your 
inquiries: 

1st. Lexington, Massachusetts, April 
19th, 1775. 

2d., 3d., 4th. June 1776; Penna.; 
Phila.; Mrs. Ross who lived on Arch 
street below Third, house still stand- 
ing. Refer to Admiral Prebles' History 
of the American Flag. 

5th. Independence Hall. 

Yours, truly, etc." 

May 20, 1892. 

"Mr. C. W. 'Smith, Phila. 

Dear Sir: 

Your favor of the 16th inst. is receiv- 
ed and in reply would say that ac- 
cording to cur best knowledge and be- 
lief the first battle of the Revolution 
was the skirmish at Lexington, Mass., 
19 April, 1775. 

The first flag of the United States 



was made at Philadelphia by Mrs. 
John Ross, at 239 Arch street, 1776. 

The Declaration of Independence 
was signed by the majority in Inde- 
pendence Hall, Phila., in July an* 
August, 1776. 

Yours truly, etc." 



Perhaps the following which 
neccs our late martyred president* 
William McKinley, with the flag will 
be of more than passing interest. 

Phila. January 16, 1909- 
Mr. Oliver Randolph Parry, 

My Dear Sir: 

It may be of further interest to yom. 
to know that the silk flag used at the 
obsequies of our late President Mc- 
Kinley was made by Mr. Harry B- 
Turner, great-great-grand-nephew of 
Betsy Ross. Mr. Turner had the plea- 
sure of meeting Mr. McKinley, and afc 
thai time asked him if he would like to 
have a flag made by a great-great- 
grand-nephew of Betsy Ross. Mr. 
McKinley replied that he would be 
most happy to have such a flag. Me. 
Turner then began the work of making: 
a flag, but before its completion, the 
President died. After the completion 
of the flag Mr. Turner communicate* 
the wishes of Mr. McKinley to tlie 
authorities at Washington, and offered 
the flag to be used at the funeral of 
the President. Hon. John Hay, Secre- 
tary of State, accepted the flag anfi 
requested that it be sent to him, as is 
shown by the following letter of the 
late Hon. John Hay. 

September, 16, 190L 
Department of State, 
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir: 

I have received by express the flag 
which you were so good as to sen<L 
with request that it be placed upon the 
coffin of the President. 

I have sent the flag, together witfc 
your letter to the Executive Mansion, 



%z 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



ia accordance with your wishes,. 

Very truly yours, 
JOHN HAT. 
Harry Turner, 

207 South 45th street, Phila. Pa. 

This flag draped the casket of the 
Jtes-ident from the time it left Wash- 
ington until it reached Canton, Ohio, 
ami Mr. Turner was subsequently 
Honored by its return to him. 

RUPERT GRISCOME BEALE. 
3316 Girard street, Phila., Pa. 

As Mr. Harry R. Turner is present, 
B would like to offer the suggestion to 
the society that it might be interest- 
ing to have Mr. Turner and Mr. Ru- 
pert Beale exhibit the flag and the 
wigiiml letters in connection there- 
with before the close of this meeting. 
Thfs courtesy the writer believes 
would be appreciated as the data I un- 
derstand is now about to be incorpor- 
ated in a publication upon this sub- 
ject. 

That much interest in the past has 
Ibeen taken in Betsy Ross and the first 
flag will be further shown by the fol- 
Bowing copies of speeches and by the 
presentations of the subject in various 
faMeaus, etc., and during Founder's 
Week parade the representation of 
Bet.-y Ross making the flag personated 
oy Miss A. H. Turner a great-great- 
grandniece of Betsy Ross. 

Tn one of these events a Bucks coun- 
ty resident Mrs. Charles Scott (nee 
Ki s Gertrude Wilson) of Churchville, 
wife of Mr. Charles Scott, the artist, 
and a great granddaughter of Mrs. 
daxfssa Wilson, who was a daughter 
of Betsy Ross by her third husband, 
John Claypoole, figured. 

This was in the tableau of the 
making of the flags given in the 
Academy of Music in 18 9 5 and she 
was chosen as a great-great-grand- 
daughter of Betsy Ross and descend- 
ant of the above Mrs. Clarissa Wilson 
fwho was associated with Betsy in 
S&e- flag making business and con- 



tinued the same after her mother's 
withdrawal until about 1857) to rep- 
resent Betsy Ross in that scene, and 
which also by the way had the three 
characters of General Washington, 
Robert Morris and Colonel Ross. 

She was the daughter of Mr. C. 
Wilson who was a son of Jacob Wil- 
son, who in turn was a son of Clar- 
issa Sidney Wilson above referred to. 

As bearing more fully on the 
genealogy of Betsy Ross' family I 
I would call your attention to the 
three photographs of the old Bible 
with the original entries therein and 
which become the property of our 
Society. I will also read a news- 
paper notice as follows: — 
Copied from Philadelphia Ledger, 
March, 1870. 

When and Where the First Ameri- 
can Flag Was Made. — An Interesting 
Story. — Last Evening, an interesting 
meeting of the Pennsylvania Histori- 
cal Society was held. 

Colonel J. Ross Snowden occupied 
the chair, and Mr. Shrigley, the af- 
fable librarian, reported, that since 
the last stated meeting the Society 
had received 117 books, 658 pamph- 
lets, six works of art and a relic, the 
later being the old fashioned brass 
knocker taken from the door of 
Stephen Girard's house, No. 21 or 23, 
Water street. 

William J. Canby, Esq., contribut- 
ed an interesting and valuable addi- 
tion to our local as well as national 
history, by reading an essay upon 
"The American Flag." He discover- 
ed, in tracing the history of this na- 
tional emblem, that the first in- 
stance when the stars and stripes 
were unfurled, was at the siege of 
Fort Schuyler, August 17, 1777, and 
upon an occasion just about one year 
prior to that time, the brig Nancy 
was chartered by the Continental 
Congress to procure military stores 
in the West Indies, during the latter 



BETSY ROSS AXD THE UXITED STATES FLAG. 



21 



part of 1775 While at Porto Rico, 
in July of the ensuing year, the in- 
formation came that the Colonists 
had declared their independence, 
and with this information came the 
description of the flag that had been 
accepted as the national banner. 

A young man, Captain Thomas 
Mandenville, set to work to make 
one, and successfully accomplished 
it. The flag was unfurled and salut- 
ed with thirteen guns. When the 
brig Nancy was upon her return voy- 
age, she was hemmed in by British 
vessels off Cape May. Her officers 
succeeded in removing all the muni- 
tions to the shore, and when the last 
boat put off a young man in it, John 
Hancock, jumped into the sea, swam 
to the vessel ran up the shrouds of 
the mast, and securing the flag, 
brought it triumphantly to shore, 
through a hot fire from the British 
men-of-war. 

The first American flag, however, 
according to the design and approval 
of Congress, was made by Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Ross. Three of her daughters 
still live in our vicinity to confirm 
this fact — founding their belief, not 
upon what they saw, for it was made 
many years before they were born, 
but upon what their mother had of- 
ten told them. A niece of this lady, 
Mrs. Margaret Boggs, aged ninety- 
five years, now lives in Germantown, 
and is conversant with the fact. The 
fact is not generally known that to 
Philadelphia not only belongs the 
honor of flinging the first star spang- 
led banner to the breeze, but to a 
Philadelphia lady belongs the honor 
of having made it. 

The house in which it was made 
still stands, Xo. 239 Arch street (old 
number being 89) the last of an old 
row. It is related that when Con- 
gress had decided upon the design, 
Colonel George Ross and General 
Washington visited Mrs. Ross and 
asked her to make it. She said "I 



don't know whether I can, nut Ft 
try" and directly suggested to the 
gentlemen that the design w-a» 
wrong, in that the stars were six- 
pointed and not five-cornered a« 
they should be. This was corrected, 
she made the flag. Congress accept- 
ed it, and for a half dozen years this 
lady furnished the government with 
all its national flags, having, of 
course, a large assistance. This lady 
was also the wife of Claypoole one of 
the lineal descendants of Oliver 
Cromwell. 

The address was very elaborate, 
and very interesting, and at its con- 
clusion the gentleman was officially 
thanked. 

Copied by C. S. Broom. 

P. S. Xo 1. (Mr. George Canby 
said, "The statement was not correct 
about Mr. Claypoole being a lineal 
descendant of Oliver Cromwell.) 

P. S. Xo. 2. In a clipping from 
the Press 3.19.92, I notice in "May, 
17 77, Congress made an order on the 
Treasury to pay Betsy Ross 14f. 12sa. 
2d. for flags for the fleet in the Dela^ 
ware River." C. S. Broom. 

The original copy is in the posses- 
sion of Xina W. Worrell, Regent of 
the Flag House Chapter, X. S. D. 
A. R. 

BETSY ROSS 

By 

Her Grandson, George Canby 

Betsy Ross was the daughter . osf 
Samuel and Rebecca (James) Gris- 
com, members of the Society of 
Friends, or Quakers, so called. 
Samuel Griscom was a noted builder, 
and had assisted in the erection off 
the State House, now Independence 
Hall, and other important buildings. 
He lived, owning his dwelling, Ma 
shop and a very large garden lot on 
the north side of Arch street be- 
tween 3d and 4th. In the largg 
family of daughters Elizabetn — 
"Betsy" as she was fondly called — 
was the sixth. She was born Ja^-u- 



24 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



ary 1st, 17 5 2, which happened on 
Sunday, and which was also the First 
day under the new Gregorian calen- 
dar. The legend was frequently, 
playfully repeated in her family that 
"She was born the first day of the 
week, the first day of the month, the 
first day of the year, and the first day 
•f the new style." 

In your study of chronology and 
agronomical time you will under- 
stand how every four years we have 
leap year and give to February 29 
•ays; and how it was on the advent 
ef 1752 eleven days were dropped, 
so that now we are celebrating 
"Washington's birthday on the 22d of 
February, when in fact he was born 
February 11, 17 32. She is repre- 
sented to have always been a bright 
and winning child and was well 
trained by her mother and grew up 
quite beautiful as a young woman; 
and was amiable and obliging in all 
her intercourse with others. She was 
also known to be very expert with 
the needle and was fond of embroi- 
dery and other delicate work. Of 
■course she had many admirers. 
Among others, was John Ross, a son 
®f Rev. Aeneas Ross, from New- 
castle, Delaware, who was rector at 
the old Trinity Church, Oxford, not 
far from Frankford, and also assist- 
ant rector of Christ Church. His 
brother was the Hon. George Ross, 
©f whom I have already spoken, 
member of the Pennsylvania Assem- 
bly three times delegate to Congress, 
and afterwards signer of the Dec- 
laration of Independence. This 
young man, John Ross, was 
serving as an upholsterer with Mr. 
Webster, who was conducting the 
Heading business at that time in \the 
city. 

It happened that one day John 
saw that the young women in Mr. 
"Webster's establishment were puz- 
sled with some particular work, the 
draping of some curtains or some- 
firing of the sort, and he told them 



that he knew of a young woman who 
could arrange it for them, and suc- 
ceed in inducing Betsy Griscom, 
with the consent of her mother, to 
come to their assistance; when Mr. 
Webster, noticing her superior skill, 
persuaded her mother to allow her 
to come and learn the business. It 
was thus that Betsy became an up- 
holsterer. She never was in the mill- 
inery or mantua-making business, 
as has been sometimes stated. John 
and Betsy completed their engage- 
ment and were married in November, 
1773, for which the Friends disowned 
her from their society. (See Minutes 
of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of 
the Northern District 1st Month to 
7th Month 177 4.) John was an 
Episcopalian and she attended Christ 
Church with him. They started 
business for themselves first on 
Chestnut street not far from Mr. 
Webster's and afterward removed to 
their little house still standing, No. 
2 39 Arch street. Here John Ross 
died from the effect of an injury re- 
ceived while guarding military stores 
on the wharf, and was buried in 
Christ Church burying ground, 5th 
& Arch streets, on January 20, 1776. 
Thus left alone this young widow 
in whom we are now particularly in- 
terested, her father and mother 
wished her to return to her home, 
but she heroically determined to con- 
tinue in business of her own account. 
She had already attracted the atten- 
tion of Hon. George Ross, her late 
husband's uncle, with whom she had 
become quite a favorite, so that 
when Washington suggested that a 
sample flag should be made, Mr. 
Ross was at no loss as to whom they 
should get to do the work. It is thus 
that we can imagine him calling 
with Robert Morris at the Hancock 
mansion, before alluded to, at 4th & 
Arch streets, and with their dis- 
tinguished companion plodding their 
way to the little upholstery shop and 
dwelling on Arch street just below 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



2$ 



Third street. She was then asked if 
she could make the flag, for she had 
never yet made one. She replied 
with her sweet diffidence, she did not 
know, but she would try, and there- 
upon Washington produced a small 
paper with a hurried pencil sketch 
thereon from his pocket with the 
outline of a flag of thirteen stripes 
and with a field dotted with thirteen 
stars. 

Betsy had taken some lessons in 
her trade which well remembered, 
she ventured an objection that the 
stars as drawn with six points 
should have only five. Washington's 
reply was (and her we see again he 
was loath to make an exact copy 
from his coat of arms) that he 
knew that, but that he considered a 
star with six points could be more 
readily made than one with five 
points. Betsy immediately respond- 
ed that nothing was easier if one 
only knew how, and quickly folded 
a piece of paper in a way she had 
learned as one of the little arts of 
her trade, and with one clip of her 
ready scissors displayed to the as- 
tonished eyes of the august commit- 
tee a true symmetrical five pointed 
star. This point was then yielded 
in her favor, and the design was re- 
drawn at her suggestion at a con- 
venient table in the room and she 
was left to make her sample flag ac- 
cording to her own ideas of propor- 
tion and the arrangement of the 
stars. In a remarkably short time 
she had completed it, and it was ac- 
cepted by the committee. She was 
soon authorized to procure all the 
bunting she could obtain in Phila- 
delphia for flags for the use of Con- 
gress, her uncle (coming back after 
parting with the committee and lay- 
ing down a note of large denomina- 
tion) for the purpose. Thus started 
the flag making business which was 
continued by her eldest Claypoole 
daughter, Mrs. C. S. Wilson, until 
the year 1857, so that it was quite 



easy to trace the history of the flag 
back to its legitimate birth. All we 
know by government records in re- 
gard to flags, showing how very un- 
satisfactory is the information ob- 
tained therefrom, is one entry of a. 
draft on the Treasury in May, 1777, 
"To pay Betsy Ross 14£ 12s 2d. foe 
flags for the fleet in the Delaware 
River," and one resolution recorded 
June 14, 1777, in the rough journal! 
of Congress immediately preceding: 
the giving of the command of the 
Ranger to John Paul Jones, "that the 
flag of the thirteen United States be 
thirteen stripes alternately red an* 
white, that the union be thirtee* 
stars white on a blue field, repre- 
senting a new constellation." Thus 
without a word of information oC 
any previous action of any com- 
mittee who may have reported the 
resolution or of whose work it was, 
thus if from this source alone we 
would be left entirely in the dark as 
to the true origin of the flag. 

You will notice that Betsy Ross 
received money in May for flags 
which shows that she must have 
made them a long time before the 
record of the resolution establishing 
the flag; but as it is the official date 
it is perfectly proper to accept the 
14th of June as Flag Day, and as 
such let it be celebrated. 

I have already wearied you quite 
too long. Much could be said of my 
grandmother's long and varied life 
of usefulness and benevolence; her 
experiences through the Revolution- 
ary War; her continued pleasant ac- 
quaintance with Gen. Washington. 
she occupying a small pew in Christ 
Church adjoining his; of her second 
marriage with Captain Ashbura. 
and his capture on the sea and his 
death in Mill Hill Prison in Plymouth, 
England; and of how John Clay- 
poole also a prisoner of war, brought 
tidings of his death to the stricken 
one, now twice a widow, and the« 
her marriage with John Claypoole. 



TV 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



my grandfather, and how after his 
<£eath she lived in usefulness to a 
=f©od old age, and of my remem- 
Brance of her small, delicate and 
fragile form and the sweet grace of 
Ber gentle disposition for some little 
tSme before her death, which occur- 
ed when I was a little boy of six 
years old at my father's house, 
January 3 A 1836. 

The foregoing is a copy of a por- 
tion of a lengthy address, made by 
Seorge Canby, at the Bridesburg 
Sfehool, T. Worcester Worrell, prin- 
cipal; on February 22d, 1896, on the 
occasion of the presentation of a 
picture of Betsy Ross. The full ad- 
dress and account of proceedings 
were published in the "Frankford 
Herald" February 2 6th, from which 
this extract was taken. The Hon. 
Thomas V. Cooper also made a 
speech and the following telegram 
was received from the late President 
Cleveland. 

"I sincerely trust, that the occa- 
sion may arouse a more ardent pa- 
triotism with increased love and re- 
spect for our country's flag." 

The above statements are vouched 
for by the undersigned, who attend- 
ed the presentation. 

NINA ACADIA WORRELL. 
October 15, 1908. 

This address was delivered before 
the school children at Frankford, 
m 1896. Several points in it George 
Canby afterward found to be incor- 
rect. 

LLOYD BALDERSTON, JR. 
12-19-1908. 

BETSY ROSS. 
An aged man who gives her full 
eredit for the flag. 

To the Editor of The Public Ledger: 
I desire to call attention to Har- 
per's Magazine of date July, 187 3. 
It contains an article of II pages en- 
titled "National Standards and Em- 
blems." It is illustrated in a costly 
and elaborate manner, and concludes 
with four pages on the subject of 



the American Stars and Stripes and 
the making of the first flag. This 
was thirty-five years ago and nar- 
rates the call of Washington upon 
Betsy Ross with the design for the 
flag, and how, upon examination, 
she modestly suggested the five 
pointed star as being more symmet- 
rical. And in this article is an il- 
lustration of the "seamstress"' as she 
is called by some, handing Washing- 
ton the five pointed star. 

In the family history of this event 
it narrates that after securing the 
order for the work she sat up all 
night to finish the flag. Now mark 
the account of the five pointed star, 
and call upon any of the four grand- 
daughters, all more than 8 years of 
age, and they will show you how to 
make the star with one clip of the 
scissors. The silver hook with her 
initials engraved upon it is in the 
possession of the family, also a pair 
of scissors that may have been the 
identical pair with which she cut the 
star during the interview with the 
august committee. 

When I was a boy, some 85 years 
ago, my mother and grandmother 
carried their scissors tied bj r a rib- 
bon to a silver hook fastened to the 
waist. 

My wife is a granddaughter of 
"Betsy Ross" and she and an elder 
sister living nearby well remember 
their patriotic grandmother. 

She lived some years at the resi- 
dence of her son-in-law in Abington 
township, going later to Philadel- 
phia, where she died in 18 36 at the 
home of another son-in-law Caleb 
Canby. 

It will be asked why the making 
of the first flag was not mentioned at 
an earlier date. I reply that the par- 
ties were members of a peaceful so- 
ciety, who loved Quiet and despised 
notoriety, and the making of flags 
was something not talked about. 
And had it not been for the wonder- 
ful curiosity of her grandson, Will- 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



i: 



iam J. Canby, the episode might 
never have reached publication. We 
were intimate friends; he was first 
cousin of my wife's. What William 
J. Canby said, was to me and all who 
knew him, absolute truth. 

DAVID NEWPORT. 
Willow Grove, July 9, 1908. 

THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE. 
Editor of The Record: 

Answering a question in your pa- 
per, permit me to say: The first 
American flag adopted by Congress 
June 14, 17 7 7, was made by Betsy 
Ross at No. 2 39 Arch street, Phila- 
delphia, from a drawing furnished 
by General Washington in person, 
who was one of a committee ap- 
pointed by Congress to commission 
her to make Government flags which 
business was carried on by the 
family for over 6 years. The small 
two-story and attic brick house was 
saved from destruction in the year 
1892 by Charles William Smith, a 
coal merchant of Philadelphia, of 
the Sons of the Revolution, Histori- 
cal and Union League Societies. 

The home was to be demolished 
for a factory site in two weeks, by 
making a better offer and taking op- 
tion changed the order o f things. 
Years afterward, on lines laid down 
by Mr. Smith, 1,040,270 Americans 
paid for it by their small equal sub- 
scriptions, clear, December 14, 1905. 

The birthplace of the United 
s flag has been tendered to the 
City of Philadelphia by the American 
Flag House and Betsy Ross Memor- 
ial Society, whose efforts in its be- 
half cannot be too highly praised. 

WILLIAM HAY. 
Philadelphia, May 9. 

A letter showing the feeling and 
reverence for the flag and its maker 
as given us in the history that has 
come down to us through the des- 
cendents of Betsy Ross and mem- 
bers of the Griscom family, is shown 
below: 



West Philadelphia, Pa, 
To Mrs. T. Worcester Worrell, 

Resent Flag House Chapter, D. A E. 
My dear Mrs. Worrell, 

I did not reply to your letter soon- 
er because I wished to answer your 
question about the Betsy Ross ar- 
ticle and my sister, Miss Harvey, w&f 
out of town, and only returned a da.y 
or two ago. I did not see her ua.121 
last evening. She cannot tell fee 
exact date of the article to which E 
referred in my former letter, but '<& 
was in the spring, (probably Aprils 
of 189 3. It appeared in the Times; 
also another in The Record. Miae 
Harvey was doing considerable writ- 
ing for both papers about that time. 

As everything relating to Betsj 
Ross will interest you, I will tell yot 
the following, which my sister te&6 
me. In IS 90 Miss Harvey attendee 
a "Woman's Suffrage Congress hei£ 
in Washington. D. C. At that meet- 
ing Miss Phoebe Consius came <rat£ 
on the platform holding a littie 
pamphlet in her hand and said dur- 
ing her address, "Do you know thaft 
the first American flag was made bg- 
a woman ? It was made by Betsy 
Ross. of Philadelphia." Then she 
read the pamphlet upon the subject, 
written by a gentleman in Harris- 
burg. This, of course, attracted nag- 
sister, as she was deeply interested 
in the history of the early settlemeafc 
of Pennsylvania, 

Shortly after this Miss Harvey 
went to California and while in San 
Francisco met Mrs. N. S. Hubbard 
who was head of the D. A. R. there 
and who organized Sequoia Chapter 
Mr. Hubbard (or Colonel I think.; 
was one of the founders of the Na- 
tional Society D. A. R. (and all tlK 
other societies, S. R., D. A. R., D. R, 
and C. A. R. had their inspiration 
from this parent organization) so ?£ 
was natural that his wife should fse 
among the honored by the "daugh- 
ters." Mrs. Hubbard invitee 
sister to become a "daughter" ■so Its- 



SS 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



arrediately upon her return east in 
February, 1893, she began to hunt 
ap the necessary data. 

Now in the spring- of 189 3 an event 
9f importance of the Patriotic So- 
cieties in California was about to 
fake place in San Francisco. This 
was the planting of a tree in Golden 
©ate Park, and about its roots, earth 
from historical locations in the east. 
Miss Harvey visited all the most im- 
portant historical places in Philadel- 
phia and vicinity: Betsy Ross' house; 
Independence Hall; Christ Church; 
St. Peter's: Carpenter's Hall, etc., 
ertc, and secured a quart can of 
«arth from each. These she care- 
fully labeled, and with a short des- 
cription and history shipped to Mrs. 
Hubbard. And the precious earth 
iug with reverent hands from our 
most sacred shrines, was filled in 
about the roots of that young sap- 
ling at the "Golden Gate" a loving 
Hnk between the East and the West. 

It was at this time that Miss Har- 
vey wrote her first article upon Betsy 
IRoss. She visited Mrs. Mund in the 
"Flag House" and learned all she 
sould from her. Also went to Mt. 
IWoriah Cemetery and sketched 
Betsy's grave (which then was cov- 
ered with grass and weeds. Later a 
flag pole was placed there.) 

After a little article appeared, she 
■ent it to California (with the earth 
ahe had collected.) It was printed in 
the 3an Francisco papers, and copied 
extensively on the coast, so you see, 
short as the article was it was a 
sieans of sowing seed which bore 
fruit later. I thought this would in- 
terest you. 

I enclose a booklet — a copy of the re- 
port of work done by the Merion Chap- 
ter, D. A. R. which I prepared and 
Tse&d. at the Pennsylvania State Con- 
ference, held at Carpenter's Hall, Phil- 
adelphia, December 5 and 6,*tl90&. On 
page seven you will read the follow- 
iar tr : 

In May 1896, Merion Chapter held 



several Betsy Ross Sewing Circles, at 
which were made two "Flags of 1777" 
copied from the flag made by Betsy 
Ros?, with thirteen stars arranged in 
a circle. In the first flag the twelve 
charter members sewed the stripes. 
The first star was cut by Mrs. Paxon, 
the Chapter's "Real Daughter." The 
other twelve stars were cut and sewed 
in place by the twelve charter mem- 
bers. In the second flag the twelve 
charter members sewed the stripes, 
and Mrs. Paxon cut the first star. The 
other twelve stars were added by the 
Chapter's new members. The second 
flag named "Ann King" in memory of 
another flag maker, who lived at the 
same time as Betsy Ross. 

(In minutes of the Supreme Execu- 
tive Council, reference is made to 
Elizabeth Ross and Ann King — Colo- 
nial Records 1777; also see Vol I Penns. 
Archives — 2d series.) 

On page 9 of the booklet you will 
see "On October 19th, 1896 there took 
place in San Francisco, California, an 
event which was of interest to every 
patriotic citizen of the United States, 
and in particular to every resident of 
the thirteen original States. It was 
the planting of the thirteen trees in 
Golden Gate Park, to represent the 
thirteen original States. Each State 
sent a tree from some Revolutionary 
spot, with historic earth to be placed 
about it roots. The idea originated 
with Mrs. Gertrude Harvey Hughes, 
of Merion Chapter. Merion Chapter, 
in co-operation with Sequoia Chapter, 
worked to interest other Chapters and 
bring the matter to a successful con- 
clusion. The trees were planted in the 
form of a semi circle, with Pennsyl- 
vania's tree to represent the keystone. 
This was a cedar from Valley Forge 
battle ground, sent by Mrs. Anna M. 
Holstein, of the Valley Forge Centen- 
nial and Memorial Association. The 
French Government sent some earth 
from Lafayette's tomb, to be placed at 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



29 



the roots of Pennsylvania's tree. This 
was deposited by a French Counsel 
residing- in San Francisco. Delaware 
County Chapter D. A. R. sent earth 
from the spot in Chester where Will- 
iam Penn first trod on Pennsylvania's 
soil." 

Other States sent trees as follows: 

New Hampshire — A sugar maple 
from the homestead of General Stark. 

Massachusetts — An elm from Con- 
cord. 

Rhode Island — A birch from the 
birth place of General Nathaniel 
Greene. 

Connecticut — A young- oak, from an 
acorn of .the Charter Oak. 

New Jersey — A linden from Wash- 
ington's headquarters, at Somerville. 

Delaware — A red maple from Bel- 
mont Hall, Smyrna, where State 
Legislature met in 1777. 

Maryland — A liquid amber from the 
grove of Francis Scott Key, author of 
the Star Spangled Banner. 

New York — A white oak from the 
battle ground of Saratoga. 

Virginia — A chestnut from the grave 
of Tfiomas Jefferson. - 

North Carolina — A hackberry from 
the battle ground of Guilford Court 
House. 

South Carolina — A magnolia from 
Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island. 

Georgia — A catalpa from Savannah. 

Merion Chapter also sent historic 
earth from nearly every Revolutionary 
locality in or near Philadelphia, num- 
bering about 100 packages. 

Again a package of earth from Betsy 
Ross House traveled across the United 
States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

Now my dear Mrs. Worrell, I am 
afraid I have made my letter very 
long but I felt sure you would be in- 
terested in what I told you about 
Betsy Ross matters, as they must be 
at the present time the special" theme 
for your Chapter's discussion. I thank 
you, and the Flag House Chapter, for 



the honor you conferred upon me by 
incorporating my former letter in 
your minutes. I shall always talk of 
the maker of the first American flaj|. 
It seems to me that it is very unkind, 
unpatriotic, and disloyal for any of 
our own citizens to cast doubt upon 
the story of Betsy Ross, as the maker 
of the flag, when the whole country 
has accepted it without a question. 
(No one from Massachusetts would do 
such a thing if Betsy had lived there.) 
What does it matter whether Wash- 
ington called upon her at a certain date 
or not! What does it matter if the pic- 
ture, as it appears on the "Betsy Ross 
Memorial Association's Certificate" is 
a "creation of the artist!" Nobody 
ever doubted that Washington prayed 
while at Valley Forge, even if the 
picture so familiar to us all was a 
"creation of the artist's mind." No- 
body ever supposed that the details 
were exactly as the painting repre- 
sented them. In those troublous 
times the newspaper photographer 
wasn't waiting with his camera to 
"snap" every pose, so that each detail 
could be perfect. 

To my mind as to thousands of 
others, the fact remains unshaken, 
despite those who have tried to cast 
doubt upon it. The members of the 
Martha Williams Society D. A. R. (of 
which I have the honor to be presi- 
dent) sing a little song at each meet- 
ing, to the air of "Red, White and 
Blue." It begins: 
"Betsy Ross lived on Arch street, near 

Second. 
And her sewing was very, very fine, 
General Washington went down to see 

her. 
To order a brand new flag, etc, etc. 

( Perhaps you know it, for it wasn't 
original with us.) 

Each child loves the story and the 
song. I have taught them to cut the 
five-pointed star as "Betsy" cut it, and 
I would not, for a moment, have them 



30 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



doubt that the first "Star Spang-led 
Banner" was made by a young wOman, 
here in our own Quaker City, the 
young gentlewoman called "Betsy 
Ross." 

With kind regards to you and all 
your "daughters," I am 

Cordially yours, 
DORA HARVEY DEVELIN. 
(Formerly Munyan.) 
Regent Merion Chapter D. A. R. 

In bringing this address to a close I 
would like to refer to the results 
achieved by Mr. Charles W. Smith and 
the ether gentlemen associated with 
him, and among whom were John 
Quincy Adams, Esq., Hon. Robert E. 
Patterson, Ex-Governor of Pennsylva- 
nia; Charles H. Weisberger; Edward 
Brooke,' Esq., superintendent of pub- 
lic schools; Adam H. Fetteroff, presi- 
dent of Girard College; etc., etc., who 
saved the old flag house (239 Arch 
street) from destruction and make 
possible its appreciation by our coun- 
trymen and their descendants in the 
years to come. As time passes and the 
importance of the flag's birth place is 
realized more fully the reward so 
long in coming will be greater. 

Would it not be well for each indivi- 
dual, as well as patriotic society lO 
look through their old papers and if 
possible bring to light any data that 
may still be in existence adding ad- 
ditional strength to the history we al- 
ready have. 

In this connection I understand a 
certain patriotic society is contem- 
plating offering prizes for any old data 
submitted to said society, bearing upon 
Betsy Ross and the making of our 
first flag. 

I take this opportunity to thank Mrs. 
Susan M. Turner, and Major and Mrs. 
T. Worcester Worrell, of Frankford, 
Pa., Mr. Lloyd Balder ston, Jr., of West 
Chester, Pa,, (who has given me for the 
society the manuscript of his book be- 
fore its publication); Dr. Rupert G. 



Beale, of Germantown, Pa., (who has 
spent much time in procuring affida- 
vits, etc., for me); Mr. Charles Wal- 
lington, of Camden, N. J.; Mr. Charles 
William Smith, of Philadelphia; Mr. 
and Mrs. David Newport and Miss 
Satterthwaite, of Abington, Pa.; Mrs. 
McCord Smith, of Germantown, Pa.; 
Mr. William M. Griscom, of Haver- 
ford, Pa., and others for the presenta- 
tion to me of data and for various 
affidavits bearing on the subject of 
my address; considerable of which I 
have used. 

I am pleased to note that some of 
the above are with us to-day and as 
many of them are descendants from 
Betsy Ross or collateral lines, it indi- 
cates the interest this family takes in 
their illustrious ancestress. Others 
would have liked to have been here 
but assured me the risk of inclement 
weather would be too great owing to 
their advanced years. 

ADDENDUM. 

The following letter was sent me 
with affidavits of seven great grand- 
nephews and nieces of Betsy Ross by 
Dr. Rupert Griscom Beale. , 

Phila, Jan. 15, 1909. 
Mr. Oliver R. Parry, 

My Dear Sir:— 

Herewith I am forwarding you a 
paper, the affiidavits of my aunts and 
uncles, who are great-grand-nephews 
and nieces of Betsy Ross, and grand- 
nieces and nephews of Margaret 
Donaldson Boggs an associate of 
Betsy Ross in the upholstering and 
flag-making business. 

Betsy Ross' maiden name was Eliza- 
beth Griscom. She was a daughter of 
Samuel and Rebecca James Griscom, 
persons of good standing and means. 
No doubt you are aware of the fact 
that Elizabeth Gyiscom learned the 
upholstering business before she mar- 
ried John Ross, an upholsterer, and 
being unusually intelligent and clever, 
she gained such an insight into the 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



31 



business that she was able to continue 
it after the death of her husband, John 
Ross. Her second husband was Cap- 
tain Joseph Ashburn, and after his 
death, she was married to John Clay- 
pooie, during all this time she carried 
on the business of upholstering and 
flag-making, which increased to large 
proportions. 

In 1795 Margaret Donaldson Boggs, 
became a widow after which she re- 
sided with her aunt Elizabeth Clay- 
poole (formerly Betsy Ross) these 
two ladies were associated in the up- 
holstery business, for many years. 

It may be of interest to note that 
Margaret Boggs lived to the advanced 
ag-e of 100 years, 5 months and 2 days. 
She was born January 10, 1776 (just 
before the colonies declared their In- 
dependence) and she died during our 
Centennial celebration, June 12, ' 1876 
retaining all her faculties to the time 
of her demise. 

On June 3, 1870 Mrs. Boggs duly af- 
firmed before a notary "That I have 
heard my aunt, Elizabeth Claypoole, 
say that she made the first United 
States flag, and that it was made on 
an order from General Washington." 

Margaret Donaldson Boggs was an 
aunt to my grandmother, Louise 
Boggs Beale, and lived for over thirty 
years with my grandparents, Stephen 
Thomas Beale, M. D., D. D. S., and his 
wife Louise Boggs Beale. They and 
their children received directly from 
their aunt, Mrs. Boggs the history of 
the making of the first United States 
flag, as told to her by her Aunt Clay- 
poole (Betsy Ross) I herewith forward 
to you the affidavits of the above men- 
tioned surviving children of Dr. and 
Mrs. Beale, who well remember the 
statements of this remarkable old 
lady. I desire to call your attention 
to the fact that these statements 
coming from one actually associated in 
the flag-making business with Betsy 
Ross, and imparted by this associate 
<Mrs. Boggs) directly to her nephews 



and nieces afford unquestionable proof 
that they are not falsified. 

Very truly yours, 
RUPERT GRISCOM BEALE. 
1116 Girard street, Phila., Pa. 

January 18, 1909 
Oliver Randolph Parry, Esq., 

Dear Sir: 

In answer to your inquiry I believe 
the original tiling still remains be- 
neath the mantel and on each side of 
the fire place in the "Betsy Ross Flag 
House" on Arch street. Those blue 
pictures of Bible subjects were there 
explained to me about Noah's ark, etc., 
when I was about four j^ears old, visit- 
ing our relatives, with my grand- 
mother's sister, Mrs. Margaret Don- 
aldson Boggs, a niece of Mrs. Ross. I 
was never there again. It was then a 
private residence, not a store. Re- 
cently my sisters called at that house, 
but before they told how it looked, I 
described the tile fire place, and we 
are sure it is still the same. These 
tiles made an impression, because 
pictures always did, and after attend- 
ing the Pennsylvania Academy of the 
Fine Arts, as a student, I became an 
artist. When visiting with Aunty 
Boggs, on Front street, below Walnut, 
(the property running to Dock street) 
I saw ladies sewing American flags of 
bunting, about the time of the Mexican 
War. I remember the troops return- 
ing, the infantry parading down Wal- 
nut street, and on another afternoon 
the cavalry and artillery passed our 
house galloping. 

Respectfully, 
JOSEPH B. BEALE. 
43 Pastorius street, 

Germantown, Phila., Pa. 

Philadelphia, January 16, 1909. 
My dear Mr. Parrv: 

List showing relation of following 
persons to Betsy Ross mentioned in 
affidavits. 

Rachel Fletcher, daughter of Eliza- 
beth Claypoole. 



32 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



Sophia B. Hildebrant, granddaughter 
of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Mary Satterthwaite, granddaughter 
of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Susan Satterthwaite, Newport, 

granddaughter of Elizabeth Clay- 
poole. 

William J. and George Canby, 
grandson of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Sarah M. Wilson, great-grand- 
daughter of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Lloyd Balderston, Jr., great-grand- 
son of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Sophia Guthrie (Mrs.) great grand- 
daughter of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Gertrude Scott (Mrs. Charles) great- 
great-granddaughter of Elizabeth 
Claypoole. 

Margaret Donaldson Boggs, niece of 
Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Susan McCord Turner, grand -niece 
of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Margaret McCord Smith, grand- 
niece of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Joseph Boggs Beale, Albert B. Beale, 
Mr. Henry B. Beale, Daniel S. Beale, 
Louise B. Culver, Clara S. B. Broom, 
Emily, J. Beale, great-grand- nephews 
and nieces of Elizabeth Claypoole. 

Clarissa Sidney Wilson, is the oldest 
daughter of Elizabeth and John Clay- 
poole, but not the oldest daughter of 
all her daughters as there were two 
daughters by her former husband 
Capt. Joseph Ashburn. 

I have also sent you an incomplete 
genealogical chart for the purpose of 
showing the descent of those who gave 
affidavits to the Betsy Ross history. 
Very truly yours, 
RUPERT G. BEALE. 

In a book entitled "The Stars and 
Stripes and other American Flags" by 
Peley D. Harrison, 1906, on page 61-62 
we find the following: 

"The credit of making the first flag 
containing the stars and stripes is uni- 
versally given to Mrs. Betsy Ross, and 
the story of its making is somewhat 



familiar to all. Betsy, or Elizabeth 
Griscom, was the fifth daughter of 
Samuel and Rebecca (James) Gris- 
com, and was born January 1, 1752. 
She was married when quite young to 
a John Ross, son o~" the Reverend 
Arneas Ross, an Episcopal clergyman 
of New Castle, Delaware, whose 
brother, the Honorable George Ross, 
became one of the signers of the 
Declaration of Independence. George 
Ross was interested in the furnishing 
of cannon balls, with perhaps other 
military stores, for the Colonial de- 
fence, and it was while on guard at 
night over these, with other young 
men, that the nephew, John Ross, re- 
ceived an injury from the effects of 
which he died in January, 1776. 

"It was during her widowhood that 
Betsy Ross made the first stars and 
stripes. For a second husband she 
married Capt. Joseph Ashburn, who 
died a pensioner of v. T ar in the Mill 
Prison, England, and for a third, John 
Claypoole, who died August 3, 1817." 

Does Col. Ross' interest appear in 
having his niece make the first flag, 
and furnish the stars and stripes as 
long as possible? Betsy's husband 
evidently was close to his uncle and in 
his employ from the above account! 

In book by George Henry Preble, U. 
S. N. Entitled "Our Flag." Page 194. 
Mention is made as below. 

"Philadelphia, June 3, 1777, Colonial 
Records, Vol. II., P. 212. The presi- 
dent laid before the council three 
strings of wampum which had been 
delivered to him some time before by 
Thomas Green, a nominal Indian of 
the nation, requesting that a flag of 
the United States might be delivered 
to him to take to the chiefs of the 
nation to be used by them for their 
security and protection, when they 
may have occasion to visit their 
brethren, and that his Excellency had 
referred him to Congress for an 
answer to his request." 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



33 



Does this imply the stars and stripes 
as a national flag had already been 
adopted for some time, but not official- 
ly recorded, and this . incident respon- 
sible for a hurried and tardy official 
record in the books of Congress in 
order to make legal the granting 
of this request? 

Mention is made of "Reminiscence 
of Wilmington," in "Familiar Village 
Tales Ancient and New," by Eliza- 
beth Montgomery, that the first 
American flag displayed at a foreign 
port was floated over the Brig 
Nancy, 1776, at St. Thomas, a neu- 
tral port, that Capt. Hugh Mont- 
gomery was the commander, and 
that the brig was chartered by Rob- 
ert Morris, Financier of the Conti- 
nental Congress, and which set sail 
in 1775, etc., etc. This point has 
been taken exception to by many 
historians for various reasons, but 
the writer thinks it is not unlikely, 
that Robert Morris did display the 
stars and stripes, on some vessel in 
which he was interested, either in 
late 1776 or shortly after, whatever 
the date was, that Betsy Ross made 
the flag of stars and stripes subse- 
quently adopted, and it no doubt was 
to one of his vessels, reference is 
made in one of the affidavits, "that 
the flag was unfurled from the mast 
of a vessel of one of the committee." 

Note: The below letter is also of 
interest as indicating the view held 
by the United States Government 
authorities in the flag matter: 
NAVY DEPARTMENT 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY'S OFFICE 
WASHINGTON. 

January 22, 1909. 
Dear Sir: — 

In response to your request of the 
20th instant for certain historical 
data, I take pleasure in sending the 
accompanying information, which I 
hope may be what you desire. 

Very truly yours, 
(Signed) H. L. SATTERLEE, 

Assistant Secretary. 



Mr. Charles William Smith, 
Union League Club, 
Philadelphia. 

(3) In what year and month and 
day was the American flag of thir- 
teen stars and thirteen stripes adopt- 
ed by the United States Congress 
(copy of same). 

Statutory beginning June 14, 1777, 
as follows: "Resolved, That the flag 
of the thirteen United States be thir- 
teen stripes, alternate red and white; 
that the union be thirteen stars, 
white in a blue field, representing a 
new constellation." An illustration 
of this flag may be found on p. 5 8 of 
"The Stars and Stripes" by P. D. 
Harrison. 

(4) From the best record and in- 
formation you have, who made this 
flag? 

Mrs. Betsy Ross, of Philadelphia. 

(5) In what State, County, City, 
was it made? 

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, 
Penna. 

(6) The number of the dwelling 
and street? 

No. 23 9 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 
Penna. 

(7) Has the government the 
name of the first vessel that hoisted 
this flag, merchant or war, and the 
date as chronicled? 

There* is no official record to show 
on what vessel the stars and stripes 
were first raised. Many historians 
state that the first stars and stripes 
was hoisted by John Paul Jones on 
the RANGER, July 4, 1777, at 
Portsmouth, N. H., while others do 
not mention any date, but record the 
incident. 

C. M. SMITH COAL & COKE CO. 
Land Title Building, 

Philadelphia, Jan. 11, 1909. 
Friend Parry: 

In answer to inquiry: 

I was born in that good old State 
Connecticut, whose sons revere the 
memory of those heroes who saved 
this country. In Yale University town, 



34 



BETSY ROSS AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG. 



New Haven, I early learned the les- 
son of Patriotism. 

In my feeble efforts to prevent the 
old home of Betsy Ross, Birthplace 
of the American Flag from oblitera- 
tion, forever, I simply did what any 
one would have done who had not 
been associated with patriotic so- 
cieties, and descendants of heroes 
and patriots. By accident I learned 
in 1892 that in two weeks the house 
was to be torn down for an intended 
manufacturing- site. I was fortunate 
enough to prevent the sale, and turn 
the wheels in the right direction, 
which they never turned back. It 
cost me some time and expense, my 
return has not been a pecuniary one, 
but satisfaction in the remembrances 
of the applicable words of the im- 
mortal Lincoln: 

"Saved by the people, For the 
people, that it do not perish 
from the face of the earth." 
It was imperative to me that I got 
true information about who was 
Betsy Ross. Did she make the first 
American Flag of thirteen stars 
and stripes adopted by the United 
States Government, January 14, 
1777? And her history. And was 
the house now standing, No. 239 
Arch Street, the same in which she 
resided and made the flag? 

The above searching inquiries I 



had to obtain before I put jny name 
to the story of the day. It was no 
child's play. I had obstacles to over- 
come, difficulties to meet. I thresh- 
ed out all the information, called to 
my aid the grandchildren then liv- 
ing, whose story as told to me then, 
is as true to-day. 

I could easily write a book on 
the data secured on getting at the 
truth about Our Flag and its maker. 
I am glad that some of the descend- 
ants are vindicating the story of 
those of their kin who have gone be- 
fore, and will refute the mis-state- 
ments, and vaporings of a recent 
publication. 
"Truth is mighty and will prevail." 
Very truly, 

(Sgd.) CHARLES M. SMITH. 

P. S. This reference to "some of 
her descendants" applies to the 
book of Mr. Lloyd Balderston, Jr., 
now in the hands of the publishers, 
and in no way to the author of this 
address who is not related to or con- 
nected with any of those concerned 
and is an entirely disinterested party 
except from historical and patriotic 
motives. 

OLIVER RANDOLPH PARRY, 

January 19, 1909. 



